Bali Arts and Crafts > Foreign Artists in Bali

^{Born in Canton, China, Lee Man Fong’s family moved when
he was young to Singapore, where he worked as a commercial artist until he got job as a
caricaturist for a Chinese newspaper in Batavia (Jakarta). At the same time he was
teaching himself to paint. Later he received a grant to study art in the Netherlands. Upon
returning to Indonesia his talent was quickly recognized by President Sukarno and become a
trusted member of the inner court. He was charged with editing a large book documenting
the Sukarno collection of paintings of which he was curator. The influence of this book in
the development of Indonesia painting cannot be underestimated.}^{Fong, often, made paintings of Balinese subjects. Some of these
were clearly based on Willem Hofker’s work. He also did a series of large paintings
depicting various activites in Bali’s daily life which are remarkable. Fong was a
versatile painter skilled in both western oil painting style. After the fall of Sukarno,
Fong retreated into private life until his death in 1988.}