Joelton Handmade Animals Figurines & Sculptures

The Wayan Rendah Artisan Collection is brought to you by World Menagerie in Association with National Geographic. This beautiful piece was handcrafted by Wayan Rendah in Indonesia. In an amazing display of his eye for detail and a steady hand, Wayan Rendah carves acacia wood into an incredibly realistic portrayal of a poisonous cobra. The serpent’s arched head and coiled tail reveal its strength and charisma in a powerful way. In Bali, the cobra is considered a holy serpent, often portrayed in the company of Siwa, the god of balance. Siwa is one of the three gods in Bali that governs birth, life, and death. Siwa is often shown with a cobra that rests on his head and around his neck while he peacefully sits in a meditative state. About the Artist: Wayan Rendah; Wayan Rendah’s father began teaching him to sculpt when he was a boy. ”Balinese woodcarving touches me very deeply. They have learned a variety of arts in Bali, such as gamelan dance, but carving a piece of wood gives me an incomparable sensation,” he says. ”After they finished school, they studied further because they needed more experience, and the tools and material they needed were beyond my financial reach. Exploring the abstract world refreshes my mind in creating new carvings.