[TheForge] Disgusting Ironwork

[Ries Niemi]

I dont think this is disgusting- its actually pretty honest about what 
it is- indonesian folk art. And it is very clear on the auction page 
that you are helping to support an individual craftsman in Bali, rather 
than some conglomerate. I have spent some time in Bali, and the usual 
marketing there is much more disgusting- you have these ex-hippie 
gentlemen and ladies of leisure from europe, the us, or australia, who 
pay the locals 10% of wholesale to make the stuff, then export it to 
europe and the us. Because these leeches are white and speak english, 
they are able to hustle the actual craftsmen, and as a result they live 
in handcarved balinese houses in paradise, with their feet up, claiming 
to be "artists", while real Balinese artists do all the work.


ries