NOVICA Artisan Kadek Ayu
Kadek Ayu
“I was born in Tegalalang, Bali, in 1979, the second child of a farmer family. Most people in Tegalalang work as craftsmen, but have many different types of products. These special abilities are derived from our ancestors.
“My childhood life was not really happy, as we lived in very limited circumstances. We used to wait until we felt really hungry to eat, and mother served our foods in small portions only so we can save our food stock. Because we lived in this situation, I only graduated from Junior High School.
“After that, I sold alternative jewelry around Kuta Beach. But after the Bali bombings, no one would buy my jewelry, and Bali became very quiet, with almost no tourists visiting our island. Then I worked as a sales promotion girl in a company and met a man that became my husband. We have 2 sons, but again, we live in limited conditions. Becoming a mother for my 2 sons means I have great responsibility for their future. They also encourage my spirit to become a self-sufficient woman.
“I learned this business by observing my family and neighbors who also produce wood-carvings. Though my product designs are similar to theirs, I have a special formula for the finishing process to make them look different. Like other traditional artisans, we also use only manual tools like saws, chisels, brushes, etc. My husband makes the wood-engravings while I make them look antique. We had no capital at first, so we tried to borrow some tools and materials from neighbors, but they seemed really not agreeable.
“Thanks to God, now this business runs well, and neighbors now borrow tools and money from us. Now we can handle any difficult situation; no more asking for help from family and neighbors. People know me as a diligent and self-sufficient woman! I learned about Novica from my relative who is a Novica featured artisan, Wayan Weta. We hope this cooperation will develop my business, bring more sales and that more customers will know my products."