Sanur Village Kite Festival in Bali – Colorful Skies and Cultural Traditions
A vibrant Balinese festival captured in color and black & white: giant kites, wind, music, and tradition in motion. A visual tribute to Sanur’s cultural celebration.
From August 11 to 14, 2022, the skies of Sanur, on the island of Bali, were filled with color, spectacular shapes, and festive energy during the Sanur Village Kite Festival. This iconic event brings together Bali’s best kite makers and flyers every year, in a joyful atmosphere blending tradition, competition, and live music.
On Mertasari Beach, numerous kite competitions lit up the days: from traditional categories like Bebean, Janggan, and Pecukan, to contemporary kites full of wild creativity. Between launches, concerts and performances kept the evenings lively and warm, creating a vibrant cultural celebration.
As a travel and documentary photographer, I had the chance to capture these intense moments. I chose to present the photos both in color and in black and white. The color images convey the event’s festive, luminous, and dazzling atmosphere. The black and white shots allowed me to focus on expressions, gestures, body tension, and the shared glances between team members — moments of focus, unity, and almost choreographic movement.
Wind, sea, giant kites dancing in the sky, long fluttering tails — all contribute to a poetic sense of movement that inspires me deeply. The festival also pays tribute to Balinese culture and its ability to keep tradition alive while sharing it with the world.
To explore more of Bali’s cultural life, you may also enjoy the sacred monkey forest in Ubud or the rice fields near Ubud.
This dual perspective — festive and intimate — is what I aimed to reflect in these images. This project is part of my broader series of documentary photo essays on folk traditions and world architecture.
About the author: Sebastien Desnoulez is a travel and documentary photographer. He captures traditional expressions, collective energy, and poetic movement through a sensitive and immersive approach. Learn more.
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All the photos displayed on this website are copyright protected © Sebastien Desnoulez. No use allowed without written authorization.
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