Ubud Traditional Art Market

Wood carving, like stone carving, has traditionally featured largely in temple and pa ace architecture with little free standing ‘sculpture’ work produced commercially. Immaculately carved demons and mythical beings decorate pillars, door panels, linters and window shutters with the aim of protecting t buildings from evil intruders. Scenes of legendary figures placed within floral d?cor set a more pleasant and educational tone. When producing tools and objects for everyday use, sculptors had a much freer hand in choosing subject matter. With the arrival of European influences, wood carving started to develop along more innovative and commercial lines.

Elephant Cave

At the farade of the cave is a relief of various menacing creatures and demons carved right into the rock at the cave entrance. The primary figure was once thought to be an elephant, hence the nickname Elephant Cave. The site is mentioned in the Javanese poem Desawarnana written in 1365. An extensive bathing place on the site was not excavated until the 1950s. These appear to have been built to ward off evil spirits.