I Gusti Ngurah Agung Dalem Diatmika

(1996)

I GUSTI NGURAH AGUNG DALEM DIATMIKA (known as GUSTI DALEM, b. 1996), is a Balinese artist whose practice centers on ceramic materiality. Born into a family deeply rooted in ceramic art, his early immersion in the medium formed a genealogical foundation that later converged with academic inquiry during his studies in Ceramic Craft at ISI Denpasar, beginning in 2015. This encounter affirmed his commitment to exploring and expanding the possibilities of clay. Questioning conventions within the craft discipline—particularly the rigid division between function and expression—Gusti Dalem positions his work within contemporary craft discourse, seeking to dissolve these boundaries into a more personal and conceptual language. His practice unfolds through persistent inquiry, with each work emerging from ongoing experimentation with the inherent character of ceramic material. He is especially attentive to the clay of his birthplace, Bali, reflecting on its cultural significance and its role within civilization, rearticulated through a contemporary lens. Since 2021, he has been active in Bali’s art scene.