Arik’s primary focus may be gamelan, but his interest in music goes far beyond it. He is a graduate of the high school of performing arts SMK 3 Sukawati (KOKAR) and ISI Denpasar. People often ask him what is gained from pursuing a musical life, and although he thinks this is an irrelevant question, to those that ask he would like to answer:
“We receive much pleasure from our passions when they are undertaken with sincerity. Even when the fruits of our work are not pleasant to others, or when the process has failed to be appreciated by those that do not recognize the challenges, if our passions are undertaken with sincerity they will be useful not only for ourselves, but also for those around us.”
Br. Gepokan, Desa Pejeng Kelod, Kec. Tampaksiring, Kab. Gianyar, Bali, Indonesia
