A Narrative Cure

Words shape us, define us, point us in directions, and form our thoughts. Enthusiasm is one of those words that shines with a special glow. Federica Beltrame and Esther López Aguilar have made it the cornerstone of Cura, the initiative they founded together three years ago. Their goal: to address the massive influx of foreign residents to Bali who fail to adapt to the local way of life and traditions by promoting and sharing projects—both their own and those of others—that respect the island’s environment. “It’s about exposing what’s happening with unchecked development—the destruction of forests, jungles, rice fields, and more. Some areas feel like dystopias; they could be straight out of a horror movie,” Esther reflects.

Known for its dramatic landscapes of volcanic mountains, rice paddies, beaches, and coral reefs, Bali is a small Indonesian island, spanning just 87 miles from east to west and 56 miles from north to south. It’s a paradise that has, perhaps, become too popular for its own good. Esther and Federica arrived from Spain and Italy, drawn—among other things—by Bali’s spirituality. “What sets Balinese Hinduism apart from its Indian counterpart is its animism, which deeply reveres nature,” Esther explains. An interior designer and an art curator, respectively, they launched Cura without financial gain in mind. “A friend built his house here following regenerative design principles and asked us to do the interior,” Esther says. The project grew gradually, as did their involvement with each client, eventually leading them to design custom furniture for the spaces they worked on. “We call them objects of relationship—they represent the symbiosis between a person and an object.”

With time, and with the help of their friend Jonathan Leijonhufvud, a Beijing-based photographer, and the creative direction of Wei Wei, they began documenting projects on the island that follow regenerative design principles—far from speculative development—where craftsmanship and traditional materials take center stage. Tian Taru, Green Nest, and Taro House are just a few examples. “We want to promote a narrative that shows things can be done in a positive but committed way,” they summarize.

They named this narrative It Takes a Lifetime to Learn How to Live. “Seneca’s words struck a chord with us when we reflected on all the people who have spent ten or twenty years fully immersed in their projects, making them an intrinsic part of their lives.”

Federica laments how little information some people have when they arrive on the island. “Many foreigners replicate a housing model of their origins that has nothing to do with the tropical climate. We want to show that you can build and live differently—without sacrificing aesthetics or comfort.” Esther agrees: “People often assume that building this way [in a more environmentally respectful manner] is more expensive, but it’s actually the opposite—faster, cleaner, and easier.”

Cura’s new challenges and clients haven’t taken them away from It Takes a Lifetime to Learn How to Live. “Jonathan is coming back to Bali, and we want to keep interviewing people. Our goal is to create an exhibition to tell these stories in a different way. Federica is deeply connected to the art world, and it makes perfect sense to do it,” says Esther. Once again, enthusiasm lights up their eyes—the same that fuels their desire to share their love for Balinese culture. “For us, the most important thing is to spread our narrative and let that enthusiasm catch on like a virus.” In this case, a good one.