Bali: From Vintage Gramophone Records to Cutting-Edge NFTs

Ever since the early whispers of the 20th century, the flamboyant charm of Bali has been progressively seeping into the global consciousness. A dazzling tapestry of international artists and scholars has served as cultural conduits, magnifying this Island’s vibrant pulse worldwide.

These include illustrious figures such as Wijnand Otto Jan Nieuwenkamp, the versatile Gregor Krause, the pioneering Thilly Weissenborn, the introspective Franklin Price Knott, the enigmatic Walter Spies, the musical savant Colin McPhee, the anthropological ace Jane Belo, the charismatic Miguel Covarrubias, the astute Margaret Mead, the brilliant Gregory Bateson, and the inspired Rudolf Bonnet, among many others.

Their diverse yet insightful works have amplified Bali’s unique cultural resonance, casting a spell over global audiences. Undoubtedly, this global fascination with Bali can be attributed to the openness and generosity of the Balinese in their interactions, creations, and collaborations.

Around the time when Nick LaRocca & the Original Dixieland Jazz Band were etching their sonic footprint on American culture with their debut jazz album, “Livery Stable Blues” (1917), the northern realms of Bali witnessed the birth of a lightning-fast gamelan style, termed kebyar (1914–15). Its frenzied rhythm and vibrant energy were so sought after that they were pursued and revered with a fervor bordering on worship.

This artistic revolution was so captivating that it drew the attention of two German record labels, Odeon and Beka. They set out on a journey to record Bali’s pulsating rhythms and hauntingly beautiful vocals in 1928–29 after becoming fascinated by the clamor of the Balinese performing arts. They traveled to every corner of this magical island.

The performances of the Gong Ubud and Peliatan, led by the charismatic Tjokorda Gdé Raka Sukawati, further ignited global fascination with Balinese culture. Their mesmerizing presentations at the Paris Colonial Exposition of 1931, nestled in the verdant expanses of the Bois de Vincennes on Paris’s eastern edge, were nothing short of sensational. This exposition, one of the most significant colonial exhibitions, attracted millions of intrigued visitors, their curiosity and fascination stirred by the artistry of world cultures on display.

Among the many captivated was Antonin Artaud, a French dramatist, poet, essayist, actor, and theater director. The entire spectacle of Calonarang, a Balinese dance drama that centers on the never-ending conflict between good and evil, particularly enthralled Artaud. He was inspired to delve deeper into the theater’s embodiment of a unique language of its own, one rooted not in mere words but in the actor’s physicality.

In his 1938 essay, “The Theatre and Its Double,” Artaud expounded upon the unusual postures, sudden jerking movements, and rhythmic inflections seen in Balinese performances as an exemplar of a new visual language that dramatically diverged from the traditional word-based approach of European theater at the time.

Following these seminal moments in Bali’s ascendance on the global stage, one performance in particular resonates deeply. The magnetic duet of Wayan Sampih and Gusti Ayu Raka Rasmi, who danced the Oleg Tambulilingan on the esteemed ‘Toast of the Town’ (better known as The Ed Sullivan Show) in September 1952, was a sight to behold. Sharing the stage with the legendary chanteuse Édith Piaf, they symbolized Bali’s global standing far before iconic acts such as Elvis Presley and The Beatles graced the same platform in 1956 and 1964, respectively.

Yet, while recognizing the profound influence and contributions of various local, national, and international figures and institutions in elevating Bali to its present global status, it’s the advent of the Internet that has truly accelerated Bali and its culture into an indisputable global icon.

The digital age has brought the spellbinding charisma and enticing beauty of Balinese culture to every corner of the world with just a click, underscoring Bali’s irresistible magic in the global cultural panorama.

Quantum Temple’s Journey in Bali

The Internet we utilize today is an evolution of the static, read-only Web 1.0, metamorphosing into a decentralized, interactive Web 3.0 that teems with user-generated content, ushering us towards a more dynamic, personalized, and immersive digital experience.

How has the advancement of semantic web technology, which includes artificial intelligence, personalized and predictive machine learning, interconnected Internet of Things (IoT) devices, virtual and augmented realities, and digital currencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum, impacted cultural heritage?

In early 2023, we were approached by Linda Adami and Stephen Lansing, who invited us, the Bandem family, to discuss one of their cultural endeavors as Quantum Temple, specifically the creation of Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) for several iconic Balinese cultural treasures.

My family, the Bandems, has a long history of being involved in the performing arts in Bali. My scholar father, Made Bandem, has spent his whole life advancing the arts and culture of our homeland. My mother, Suasti, is a well-known choreographer who uses modern ideas in her dances in a skillful way. My sisters, Ary and Dewi, like our parents, have earned recognition in their own right as accomplished dancers. As for me, Marlowe, I’ve become an archivist who carefully collects and shares information about Bali’s contributions to art. As a family, we aim to preserve and promote our rich artistic heritage.

Stephen Lansing, a renowned anthropologist and pioneer of complexity theory, has conducted seminal research in Bali, particularly around the traditional irrigation system known as subak. His collaborative efforts in this field culminated in the designation of the Balinese subak system as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2012. He is also one of the curators of Quantum Temple, with a discourse titled Paths to Alangö that I loosely fathomed as a journey into transformative beauty.

Meanwhile, Linda Adami, the founder and CEO of Quantum Temple, is an Italian-born economic strategist with honors in Political Economy from King’s College London who recently worked with the Dubai Government at the Dubai Future Foundation, where she developed public strategies and a global community platform called Dubai Future Talks, which brings together top academics, cultural figures, and artists, including Jeffrey Sachs, will.i.am, Neil DeGrasse Tyson, Bjarke Ingels, and Nick Bostrom.

Adami passionately explains that Quantum Temple, initiated in Bali in circa 2020–21, is a Web 3.0 platform dedicated to preserving cultural heritage by connecting cultural keepers with conscious collectors committed to protecting and sharing various aspects of culture from around the world via NFTs and blockchain technology.

Amid our limited experience, we knew many artists, collectors, and speculators in Bali had already widely produced, collected, and transacted these tokens. Yet Adami refreshed our understanding of NFTs, especially how NFTs can be an innovative method to transport stories, knowledge, and culture right from the heart of their origin to the screens of people worldwide.

She pointed out that an NFT about Bali is not only a digital artwork but a time capsule of Bali’s cultural evolution, humanistic experiences, religious beliefs, and societal norms. Having experienced the process of digitizing cultural documents through my archival work with the Bali 1928 Archives, I see the shift to NFTs as an extension of this familiar process, but with an added layer of excitement, infusing the vibrant energy of the millennial and Gen Z generations.

NFTs can be understood as a kind of certificate of authenticity and ownership for unique digital assets stored on a blockchain, a technology that facilitates the transfer of digital data in a highly transparent, secure, and intermediary-free manner.

Consider an NFT as akin to Leonardo da Vinci’s “Mona Lisa—a painting so unique there’s nothing else quite like it, making it priceless. Its provenance can be traced and verified through its long and well-documented history.

Similarly, NFTs are digital assets whose origin and ownership can be traced and verified through blockchain, adding an unprecedented layer of transparency and security to the ownership and transfer of digital works.

So, if the “Mona Lisa” stands as a singular masterpiece in the physical world, then NFTs are the ‘Mona Lisas’ of the digital realm.

Moreover, think of the blockchain as a transparent, unchangeable history book. The blockchain records all transactions in a way that everyone with access can view. Its ability to verify authenticity and ownership is akin to a museum curator’s expertise in confirming the authenticity and provenance of an artwork. This makes blockchain an ideal tool for representing digital assets, such as digital art, videos, music, or virtual real estate, just as a museum is perfect for displaying physical art pieces.

The cultural guardians referred to are every community member, or kulasentana, who preserves their community’s distinctive tangible and intangible cultural heritage from generation to generation.

The spectrum is broad, not only including craftsmen, undagi ‘traditional architects’, dancers, temple singers, farmers, and subak stewards and members but also village historians, priests, and local tour guides.

We were delighted by the playful possibilities of being a part of this ground-breaking initiative as we navigated this exciting intersection of tradition and innovation. More importantly, we were eager to enrich Quantum Temple’s passion and commitment with our own sincere ingenuity.

We took the leap to contribute to the preservation and promotion of Balinese culture in this new digital landscape, ensuring Bali’s rich heritage continues to inspire and captivate future generations.

Bali’s Blockchain Leap with Quantum Temple

I remember that our elders in Bali also preserved and immortalized various religious, spiritual, and cultural narratives through various works in sacred and revered places—one stark example is the wall carving of a foreigner with a pointy nose and iconic moustache, riding a bicycle at Meduwé Karang Temple, Kubutambahan—which I always believe represents the openness of Balinese people to foreign influences, whether it’s new people, new things, or new ideas, as long as these influences bring artistic insights and do not intend to colonize and exploit this “Island of Thousand Temples.”

Our elders demonstrated that they not only embrace foreign ideas, but more importantly, they actively seek and incorporate these ideas in a way that enriches Bali. There seems to be a unique combination of genetic and cultural factors that makes the Balinese people particularly daring or brave in taking the next artistic and aesthetic leap.

The melting of olden metallophone blades in North Bali that influenced the rise of kebyar and the separation of kécak ‘vocal chanting’ and sanghyang ‘trance dance’ in the film Insel der Damonen in Bedulu are examples of how Balinese cross-cultural collaboration and creativity do not at all erode its cultural spirit.

In 1948, the Singapadu trio, consisting of I Made Kredek, Wayan Geria, and Tjokorda Oka Tublen, assembled a barong performance script as a tourist attraction. Kredek, the scriptwriter, named the performance Barong Kuntisraya. Currently, the dance drama, popularly known as Barong and Keris Dance, is one of the most famous touristic performances across the island.

So what is the uniqueness of Quantum Temple, or more precisely, how does it benefit the cultural heritage of Bali, especially in the wake of continuity in change?Adami asserts that cultural heritage is more than just stories told by each community or traditions they uphold; it has a fundamental role and function in shaping our collective identity or cultural imprint as humans. This vision is part of Quantum Temple’s international collaboration currently pervading the cultural landscapes of Bali, Peru, and Panama.

First, Quantum Temple is a fellowship of creative wanderers with specific expertise and experience who take a “quantum leap” to become gatekeepers and cultural guardians within a world where tradition and local wisdom are transmitted through modern technology—to be nurtured as a sustainable collective paragon.

Second, Quantum Temple in Bali is based on curatorial Paths to Alangö, or journeys into transformative beauty, manifested as three tokens, namely Cultural Heritage NFTs, Cultural Artifact NFTs, and Cultural Experience NFTs.

Third, this collaboration guarantees transparent, fair, and sustainable revenue distribution for cultural guardians and their communities. The purchase of the “Cosmic Egg” membership and/or NFTs, either as a genesis drop or through secondary sales (which generate additional royalties), directly benefits the cultural guardians who participated in its creation.

In this first stage, there are eleven Cultural Heritage NFTs (historic sites, rites, arts, music, philosophical teachings, sacred artifacts, traditional knowledge and technologies, and others) in the form of cinematic videos involving communities or cultural guardians from all over Bali. These NFTs tie closely to the distribution of proceeds from the sales.

The financial proceeds that have been decided and implemented in the context of royalty distribution are 40% for Quantum Temple, 40% for cultural guardians, 10% for NFT producers, 5% for curators, and 5% as an impact fund or managed fund for art and culture communities. The impact fund, whose control is entrusted to cultural guardians and their communities, is intended to finance programs or facilities that enhance the transmission of traditional knowledge.

NFT owners can directly witness the disbursement of funds to those who have preserved this local wisdom and provide advice and guidance according to their respective expertise.

As the sun began to set, painting the sky with hues of orange and purple, we were presented with some ready-to-publish NFTs, including Dancing the Bird of Paradise, which was choreographed by my mother, Suasthi Bandem. The NFTs excited us, and we agreed to participate in this innovative venture.

However, we had one condition: the recording of Bandem, performing the Topeng Dalem Arsawijaya dance must be complete and accompanied by the live accompaniment of gamelan music.

Quantum Temple responded positively to our condition, adding a thoughtful request of their own. They wished to complement the recording with an interview about the dance and the philosophical teachings related to being a good mask dancer.

This request further highlighted their commitment to preserving the depth and richness of our cultural heritage, making us even more eager to embark on this journey with them.

The Royal Topeng NFT

Born and raised in the esteemed village of Singapadu, a close-knit community known for its diverse arts and crafts, Bandem was immersed in the world of Balinese performing arts from a tender age. This early exposure kindled a passion in him, transforming him into not just a skilled dancer but also a prolific scholar in the realm of ethnomusicology.

Bandem’s father, I Made Kredek, was his first mentor, introducing him to the fascinating world of mask dance and Arja dance opera. Kredek took Bandem to all corners of the island, learning from dance maestros like I Marya (Kebyar Duduk), I Nyoman Kakul (Baris), and Anak Agung Aji Raka Batuan (Panji dance drama). Each master imparted their unique charisma and style, enriching Bandem’s artistic repertoire.

When the opportunity arose to create an NFT of the Topeng Dalem Arsawijaya, I couldn’t let it pass. This was more than just preserving a family legacy or my father’s experiences. This was a chance to contribute to the Cultural Heritage NFTs of Bali, particularly from the perspective of Balinese performing arts. The team involved was reputable, and their network was expansive—honestly—promising a reach that could elevate this cultural treasure to the “next level.”The recording process was a poignant tableau that unfolded over two hours in our ancestral home in Singapadu. Bandem, at the age of 78, was a force of nature, performing the dance in its entirety four times, including a practice run to perfect the stage and choreography.

Suasthi was the patient and loving scenographer behind the scenes, meticulously applying makeup and assisting with the costume. Every detail was attended to with utmost sincerity, from the donning of saput (body cape), awiran (tassel), stiwel (leggings), bapang (neck band), gelangkana (bracelet), angkeb pala (epaulet), keris (dagger), and gelungan (crown) to the preparation of offerings for the gamelan and Dalem mask.

For this NFT, Bandem donned a legendary mask, a gift to I Made Kredek in 1956 from the last King of Bangli, Anak Agung Ketut Ngurah. Every movement, every sound, and every moment captured in the recording were a testament to a cultural heritage that has weathered generations.

The result was a dynamic fusion of tradition, respect, and modern technology, all coming together in a significant NFT, set within the evolving walls of Bandem’s ancestral home—a testament to the sustainable adaptation of culture and countless childhood memories.

After the meticulous editing process by Kiril Dobrev and Bryn North, a 35-second, 4K-quality digital artwork titled Royal Topeng was ready to take its place alongside other NFTs, ready for launch and auction.

Paths to Alangö: A Milestone for Cultural Heritage Preservation

As a tribute to Bali and all 16 cultural guardians involved, the Paths to Alangö NFTs were launched and premiered on February 10, 2023, at Tirta Empul Temple, one of the most revered spiritual sanctuaries in Bali.

In addition to viewing the entire digital project, the local community also put on a number of dance performances for the enjoyment of the community, tourists, and government officials.

I recall an amusing encounter during this initial unveiling of the NFTs to our cultural communities. When presented with the brief, condensed NFTs, there was a moment of collective bewilderment, considering the artists, dancers, musicians, and artisans had been deeply involved in exhaustive days-long video shoots, pouring their heart and soul into every gesture, note, and stroke.

Some even wondered out loud, “Is this just the trailer?”

After the initial surprise subsided, Lansing explained the nature of NFTs and their inherent conciseness, aiming to captivate attention and engage curiosity in the digital world. He highlighted how each brief digital artwork carried the spirit and essence of those extensive, vibrant sessions they had participated in.

The perplexing wonder gradually transformed into understanding and, ultimately, acceptance. It was a moment that precisely illustrated the juncture of tradition and innovation, reminding us all that even the most profound stories can be told in a single, succinct digital moment.

The eleven NFTs, created with full heart, successfully represented the magnificent art and culture of Bali, knitting the array of colors, sounds, movements, textures, patterns, philosophical teachings, and aura inspired by this island’s respect for noble sanctity, sincere truth, and the flow of beauty that have merged and influenced each other throughout the ages.

Soon after, on March 21, 2023, we launched the Paths to Alangö NFT collection in a special event tied to the Paris Blockchain Week 2023 event at l’Atelier des Lumières, Paris.

l’Atelier des Lumières, which literally means ‘House of Light’, is a digital art museum and cultural space that displays iconic works such as Marc Chagall and Van Gogh through innovative animations and classical music arrangements, bringing classic art into the 21st century.

The event? A sensorial spectacle! Walls towering 10 meters high became alive with the juxtaposition of the NFTs, a mesmerizing visual interpretation of Bali’s lore, wisdom, and artistry. The environment was utterly immersive, a real leap into the unique beauty of Bali.

With a configuration of 140 video projectors accompanied by high-fidelity surround sound, the experience was nothing short of transformative. It was as if Bali had been plucked from the map and manifested right in front of you, with grandeur and vibrancy that kept your senses buzzing. From the floor right up to the ceiling, wherever your gaze landed, the Paths to Alangö NFTs greeted you, an undulating expanse of digital magic.

Another memorable moment was the Cendrawasih dance duet performance by young and talented dancers Ni Kadek Virna Erikayani and Ni Kadek Dwi Martini. They not only brought charm and grace to the stage but also served as guardians of the NFT, Dancing the Bird of Paradise, with the Kesuma Jaya Arts Group, Sebali.

The highlight of the event was the Royal Topeng NFT auction. Beginning with a charming 7-minute live performance by Made Bandem, attendees and auction participants were given the opportunity to see and feel the glory and grandeur of Bali’s masked performance before having the opportunity to save part of that cultural heritage in the form of an NFT.

The event, coinciding with the celebration of the Saka New Year 1945, or Silence Day in Bali, was not only an important step in preserving Balinese culture but also marked a new beginning in the ways we understand and appreciate art and cultural heritage. I am reminded of Henry Jenkins’ expression of the convergence of technology and culture when tradition and modernity collide as a synergy.

In less than 15 minutes, the Royal Topeng NFT was auctioned off for a fantastic value of 53.59 ETH, or almost equivalent to 1.435 billion rupiah.

Tokenizing Cultural Heritage: A Solution to Artistic Sustainability

As we stand at the precipice of this new era, we are reminded that our collective journey does not end here. This is merely the beginning of a grand odyssey where the technology of the future is wielded to safeguard the treasures of our past and present.

For me, the process of tokenizing cultural heritage, creating digital twins of significant physical artifacts like bells or masks, and linking NFT ownership to objects, sites, and earthly experiences is a solution to the uncertainties and sustainability issues of artistic expression worldwide.

Our experience can hopefully be an example of how we, as cultural guardians, can step onto a level of excellence in the global arena with confidence to ensure that our cultural expression can be maintained and appreciated across geographical and temporal boundaries and can be accessed universally and unalterably. We invite conscious collectors, art promoters, culture observers, and interested individuals to join us in carrying forward the legacy of our ancestors into the digital age. Just as Nieuwenkamp once said, “I wander, I acquire,” we too should strive to learn, acquire, and champion ancestral cultures.

Let’s ensure that the vibrant tapestry of our culture not only continues to enchant the world but also evolves and thrives in the digital landscape. Together, we can make a difference. So, let’s wander together.

Read the original post by Marlowe Bandem, Quantum Temple's Senior Advisor for Bali here. Marlowe is a polymath, oversees Bali's largest IT campus, co-founded Bali 1928 Archive, excels in finance, innovates in digital art, and aids in cultural preservation.