This Balinese wood carving of two praying mantises climbing a tree branch symbolizes the balance between life and death. The stylized sculpture was probably made by master carver I Wayan Pendet (1936-1998) from Nyuh Kuning.

In Balinese culture, the praying mantis is seen as a useful animal that protects the rice fields from harmful insects. Its local name – balang kaja – refers to the higher/sacred (kaja). Or in Indonesian – belalang sembah – to the traditional Indonesian greeting (sembah), in which the palms are pressed together as a sign of respect for both god(s) and fellow human beings. The praying mantis is a living symbol of this sacred act. Because the insect literally embodies this posture, it is considered a natural teacher of reverence. It reminds people that spirituality is not separate from daily life, but inextricably linked to it.

Due to the strong focus on animism within Balinese Hinduism, the praying mantis is often regarded as a messenger from the spirit world. It is believed in Bali that spirits can manifest themselves in small creatures such as insects. A praying mantis in a temple or on a home altar is seen as a good omen or an encouragement to pray. The insect also symbolizes silence and concentration. This aligns with the concepts of meditation, which are essential for achieving balance between good and evil forces on the island.

The praying mantis is also linked to the Balinese concept of taksu, which stands for ‘divine inspiration’ or ‘creative/spiritual spark’. Its intense focus and lightning-fast reaction are seen as a physical manifestation of taksu. The insect symbolizes the state of being fully present in the moment, which is essential for Balinese dancers, artisans, and priests.

I Wayan Pendet
The slender wood carving (height incl. base: 37 cm) is attributed to I Wayan Pendet, a famous woodcarver from Nyuh Kuning, who excelled in making animal figures. Pendet was born in Peliatan, Ubud, in 1936. After primary school, he learned woodcarving from the sculptors Wayan Landeng and Nyoman Tinggal from Nyuh Kuning. He also worked for the renowned Njana Tilem Gallery in Mas, which was founded in 1960. Like many Balinese artists of that time, Pendet did not focus on a single discipline. Besides his woodcarving, he also painted.

Pendet was also friends with the Dutch painter Rudolf Bonnet, who supported many Balinese artists by selling their work and organizing joint exhibitions. In 1949, Bonnet made a portrait of the then 13-year-old woodcarver (see picture). In 1956, under the guidance of Bonnet, Pendet spent several months at the Indonesian Academy of Fine Arts in Yogyakarta, where he demonstrated his sculptural skills. Bonnet also purchased his work for the Puri Lukisan Museum, founded in 1954, including a similar, larger sculpture of two praying mantises.

Pendet’s early woodcarving is characterized by a refined stylization that aligned well with the modern style of the time. His animal sculptures often have a humorous or deeper meaning. Praying mantises appear frequently in his work from the 1950s. In later years his work becomes more whimsical and caricatural. His sculptures appear strange and unique, created from his own imagination. Instead of a smooth finish, he uses the knots and natural patterns in the wood for decorative purposes.

Symbolic meaning
Pendet’s statue of the praying mantises is a good example of the elongated style in Balinese woodcarving, which emerged in the mid-1930s and was adopted by a new generation of woodcarvers after World War II. Praying mantises have long bodies and thin legs, making them perfectly suited for this style. By depicting a pair of them, Pendet subtly refers to the balance between life and death. Because the female is known to eat the male after (or during) mating, together they symbolize the cycle of sacrifice and creation.

This is emphasized by the fact that the praying mantises are depicted on a branch of the jepun (frangipani tree). In Bali, the jepun is seen as a symbol of immortality en reincarnation. Even if a branch of the tree is broken off and lies in the sun for months, it can take root and bloom again if it is planted in the ground.

You often see a jepun at temples and cemeteries. It is believed that the tree builds a bridge between the world of humans and the world of the ancestors. The pleasant scent is said to attract good spirits and drive away negative energies. Praying mantises often sit on the branches and leaves. The strong, sweet scent of the frangipani flowers attracts many insects, such as butterflies, moths, and bees. The insects fly from flower to flower in search of nectar, making them easy prey for the waiting mantis.

Tantri Kamandaka
Praying mantises regularly appear in the Tantri Kamandaka (Indonesian fables), such as ‘the pious mantis and the busy cricket’. The story goes as follows:

One day, a praying mantis sits perfectly still on a branch in the hot sun, his forelegs folded as if he were praying. A busy, noisy cricket passes by and mocks the mantis. ‘Why are you sitting there praying so boringly? Come play!’ says the cricket. The praying mantis does not answer, but continues to stare with his big eyes. The cricket jumps back and forth carelessly. Suddenly, when the cricket gets too close, the mantis shoots out of his “praying” posture with lightning speed and grabs the cricket. The moral: patience and camouflage (cleverness) triumph over hubris and busyness. The “pious” posture is merely a cover for the hunt.

Museum Pendet
A collection of I Wayan Pendet’s sculptures and paintings is housed at the Museum Pendet in Nyuh Kuning, founded after his death 1998. His work can also be seen in Museum Puri Lukisan in Ubud and Museum Purna Bhakti Pertiwi in Jakarta. Watch below a video of I Wayan Pendet at work in his old age.