Hand- Carved Statuary from Indonesia to Kaua’i
New Shipment has Arrived!
High quality, hand-carved statues from Indonesia, have shipped across the Pacific Ocean and have landed at the Garden Ponds Nursery in Kilauea. We are thrilled about the contents of this shipment, much of it being carved by our most skilled carvers, from the best quality stone materials, blue basalt, and andesite.
Our team of talented carvers in Indonesia have collaborated with us on these pieces, and have created some stunning works of art. We are honored to bring these sacred statues to the island of Kaua’i, and for the opportunity to work with such masterful artisans.
Why do we bring statues from Indonesia?
After having travelled to Thailand, Bali and Indonesia, owners, Ken, Jan, and Jake Bernard felt inspired to bring the Balinese aesthetic here, to Kaua’i. They felt that the statuary, water gardens and rain chains resonated harmoniously with Kaua’i, and enhanced the lush tropical landscapes. Everything that they have brought in has been with the aim of creating a place of peace and balance. The “Taksu” of the pieces is something that they have sought to bring to their customers.
Taksu, the spirit of the stone
Taksu is a Balinese word that does not easily translate into other languages. It relates to the way a piece of art can pierce one’s inner soul, breaking the barrier of time and space. To impact the viewer at this level, the carver must get out of their ego and let the spirit of the stone come through as an expression of itself. The art that embodies Taksu, exudes a life force that touches you at the center of your being. The carver may partake in fasting rituals for many days to purify their body before doing the final details on a statue or stone symbol.
Our master-carvers have dedicated their lives to bringing this form of art into the world, and they are grateful for the opportunity to share their work with us in the Pacific Islands. Their preferred stone to work with, coveted for its density and hardness, making finer details and definition possible, is Blue Basalt. We love statues carved from Blue Basalt because they can reach a fine quality of detail, and have a seemingly ‘inner glow’. Beautiful statuary or vessels are also carved from Andesite, Paros or Lavastone, each with their own unique properties.
Blue or Pink Basalt
Blue or Pink Basalt is the highest quality stone our carvers work with. It’s smooth, shows little texture, is dense and very hard. The intricate detail and quality of the carvings achievable with this stone are unrivaled. Statues carved in Blue or Pink Basalt will have a much deeper level of detail than any other stone. It is the premier choice for customers wanting the highest quality carving possible. It ages somewhat slowly and beautifully.
Andesite
A popular choice, andesite has a neutral tone and large rock inclusions that add personality to each piece. This is the lowest priced stone our carvers work it. Even though a beautiful result can be achieved, the level of detail possible is much less than that of Blue Basalt. Andesite will age and weather beautifully in any climate.
Paros
Paros is a mixture of pumice, lava and concrete stone that is poured into a form and then hand-carved into beautiful ‘lava stone’ vessels or statues. Many Balinese temples are carved from this stone mixture, because it is lightweight, absorbs and holds water well, and ages quickly; developing a coating of moss that adds to its natural appeal. For this reason, we have chosen to have our carvers create a line of these stone vessels designed to sit under rain chains, to beautifully capture the flowing water – and become a living art piece.
We hope that you may find a piece that is perfect for creating your very own place of peace and balance. We invite you to stop by the nursery in Kilauea to see our newest inventory of statues, paros stone vessels and, of course to stop and smell the waterlilies.
Garden Ponds is located in Kilauea, next to the Anaina Hou Mini Golf. We are open Wednesday through Friday, noon to 5 p.m. Saturdays we open at 9 a.m. (until 5 p.m.). Give us a call at 808-828-6400, email us with inquiries at [email protected] or visit us at www.gardenpondskauai.com for classes and blog posts.
