Panca Warna: The Living Energy of the Cosmos from Ancient Myths to Contemporary Art Practice

Abstract

In Balinese tradition, color is central to both artistic expression and spiritual practice, serving as a guiding principle that connects aesthetic forms with cosmological meaning. This study focuses on Panca Warna, the five sacred colors, white, red, yellow, black, and multi-colored/gold, each associated with a specific direction: east, south, west, north, and center. These colors express principles of opposites, balance, and renewal, connecting human life as a microcosm with the universe as a macrocosm in harmony. The study uses an interdisciplinary approach, combining cultural analysis, hermeneutic interpretation, and artistic reflection, to show how color serves both as a symbolic system and as a medium of artistic innovation, preserving ancestral wisdom while enabling new interpretations in contemporary practice. The findings demonstrate that the significance of color transcends its cultural origins, offering a paradigm for understanding how traditional cosmologies inform broader global discourses on art, ecology, and spirituality. This study expands the understanding of sacred colors in Balinese tradition and demonstrates their relevance to global discourses, offering a foundation for cross-cultural studies and contemporary art practices rooted in traditional wisdom.