Museum guide

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Museums are temples for the Muse of History. They awaken the imagination and bring to life stories of the past right before the eyes. Ubud is the Art and Culture center of Bali, taking center-stage with six museums and hundreds of galleries that line the main streets. Ubud is renowned for its devotion to art, beauty, storytelling and cultural preservation.

ar_med_blanco_museum-1The most famous museum is Ubud still remains the Antonio Blanco Museum (left), a renaissance museum built on the mountain-top compound of world famous artist Don Antonio Blanco. Built in the breath-taking Campuan river valley, the compound is home to a small exotic bird park, a restaurant, amphitheatre, gift shop, art studios and sacred temples. The works of Blanco are famously inspired by his life in Bali and his devotion to the woman's figure. His art is extravagant, erotic, exotic and award-winning, sure to awaken the spirit of Balinese life right before the eyes. Famously known as "the Dali of Bali", Blanco is renowned for his creative impressionist style of the women's figure and his grand ability to capture the Balinese lifestyle in flowing motion of colours and vivid brush strokes.

Visitors can easily spend a few hours wandering through the compound as if walking in the steps of Blanco himself. Visitors can image Blanco's daily life as a passionate and devoted artist, a father and husband, a lover of nature and devotee to the sacred feminine in all of Nature. 

Perhaps the most intriguing part of the compound is Blanco's untouched studio that displays his last, although unfinished, masterpiece. Blanco's son, Mario, who carries on the artistic tradition, fulfilled his father's dream to transform the compound into a museum. Visitors travel worldwide to see a glimpse into the private life of an extraordinary man. Artists are always revered, for they have the ability to reveal the beauty, where so often it is hidden.

ar_med_armaAnother popular choice among visitors is the Agung Rai Museum of Art (ARMA). Situated in a stunning garden estate and surrounded by luscious vegetation, statues, fountains, and flowing waters, the ARMA compound inspires visitors to reflect on the Beauty of nature, as well as the beauty of art. With its many art and cultural activities, conferences, seminars, changing exhibitions and dance, drama and music performances, ARMA remains true to its claim to be "more than a museum: it is a centre for visual and performing arts". Founded by Agung Rai and his wife, two prestigious and respected art dealers and collectors in the Ubud area, the ARMA complex invites visitors to wander through the many Balinese style showrooms to enjoy a grand variety of styles and art-forms. From traditional Balinese paintings by Balinese masters, works by foreign artists, to contemporary and modern art, the ARMA museum is sure to inspire all kinds of art lovers. Visitors can spend hours just admiring the details in the traditional Balinese style paintings, but just as well, visitors will stand in quiet contemplation admiring the incredible works of modern art. There are two restaurants, Kafe ARMA and Kokokan Club, and resort on the estate as well. Visitors may have the good fortune to see performers practicing on the open stage. 

ar_med_neka_paintingThe Neka Art Museum The Neka Art Museum, founded by Balinese teacher Pande Wayan Suteja Neka, is situated in a beautiful scenic valley in Ubud's artist community along the Campuhan river. Like all great structures, the Neka Art Museum was born from a seed of devotion to an ideal. Neka dreamed of preserving the greatest art by Balinese artists in hopes of educating and inspiring future generations of artists.

The Neka Museum has several exhibition halls and a large collection of pieces by extraordinary artists. Among the exhibitions are collections from traditional Balinese style art, Classical Puppet Style, Balinese Contemporary Art and Art from Abroad, which includes art by foreign artists. One pavilion is dedicated to artist Arie Smit, a Dutch-born Indonesian artist, who was inspired by temples. landscapes, and balinese people. A second pavilion is dedicated to the works by I Gusti Nyoman Lempad, who is Bali's most famous artist.

The Yayasan Dharma Seni or the Art Devotion Foundation has officially recognized the Neka Museum for its efforts of preservation and education.

ar_big_lukisanMuseum Puri Lukisan, the oldest museum in Bali constructed in 1954, is known for being "the heritage of Balinese Art" for its long-time efforts and dedication to preserve traditional Balinese Art, both painting and wood-carving. Situated on a beautiful landscape with lotus ponds, the museum is divided into three main showrooms that invite the visit to slowly stroll through the galleries.

The main exhibitions display the best of traditional Balinese paintings by true creative geniuses, including I Gusti Nyoman Lempad, Anak Agung Gde Sobrat, and I Gusti Made Deblog. Their highly detailed works of Balinese culture truly awaken viewers to admire the richness of Balinese culture, spiritual and daily life and see the hidden mysteries of life itself come to life in form.

The Rudana Museum, founded in 1995 by Nyoman Rudana and Ni Wayan Olastini, is another stunning museum situated in just as beautiful landscape. With almost 500 pieces of art and sculpture, visitors will have a great opportunity to learn about traditional Balinese culture and see the abstract works of modern Indonesian artists. The contrast between the past and the present in modern art gives visitors a chance to see the transformation in artistic style that has occurred over time.

ar_med_mask2The newest museum to enter the world-stage is the Setia Darma House of Masks and Puppets. Founded by visionary Hadi Sunyoto, who wished to create a space to preserve the disappearing art of puppetry and mask-making, the House of Mask of Puppets displays its magnificent and rare collection in a number of traditional Javanese Huts called Joglo. Prior to 2006, the exhibition spaces were private places for household activities, but the name "house" remained to signify the new museum. Situated on the beautiful landscape of Kubu Bingin Cultural Village in Gianyar, the House holds the largest collection of masks and puppets in the world. With over 4500 pieces from countries such as Indonesia, Africa, Malaysia, China, Myanmar, Cambodia and Japan, the House can engage historians and culture enthusiasts for hours!

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