Bali; a treasure for Indonesian art lovers!

Bali; a favorite destination for tourists as well as art lovers! This tropical island has a lot to offer to everybody, from beaches, diving and nightlife to temples, palaces, museums and delicious Balinese food. But it is the overwhelming warmth of the local population that makes your holiday unforgettable.

This is exactly what drew Western artists to Bali at the beginning of the 20th century. Bali became an artist enclave for avant-garde artists such as Rudolph Bonnet, Walter Spies, Adrien-Jean Le Majeur and Arie Smith.

Ubud, the most popular town on the island, has been a center for art and artists for many centuries. It is surrounded by royal palaces and temples and has known many patrons over the years.

_{One of the exhibition halls at the ARMA museum}

Until the 1920’s, art in Bali consisted mostly of Wayang paintings, but the influx of Western artist introduced a secular style. The German Walter Spies settled in Ubud in 1927 and founded the ‘Pita Maha Artisten Coöperatie’. Translated as 'great shining', this artist association was erected to foster and promote the talents of local artists.

Thanks to the support of the prince of Ubud, Tjokorda Gde Agung Sukawati, the city became an important center for artists.

_{Rudolph Bonnet, Balinese girl (study)}

Although Walter Spies tragically passed away in 1942 (after having been arrested in 1940 for homosexuality) his influence is still visible everywhere in Ubud, alongside that of Rudolph Bonnet. When visiting the town, surrounded by beautiful paddy fields, make sure to pay a visit to the Agung Rai Museum, NEKA Art Museum or the Puri Lukisan Museum.

Agung Rai Museum (ARMA Museum), Ubud

_{Part of The Agun Rai Museum and resort}

The Agung Rai Museum was established in 1996 to preserve and showcase the artefacts of Balinese culture. Its collection ranges from traditional to contemporary, including classical Kamasan painting on tree bark, masterpieces by Batuan artists of the 1930s and 1940s and the only works to be seen on the island of Bali by 19th century Javanese artist Raden Saleh and Syarif Bustaman.

But the work of foreign artists who lived and worked in Bali is also represented in the collection, including Willem Gerard Hofker, Rudolf Bonnet, Arie Smith and Willem Dooijewaard.

Walter Spies has been given a special place in the collection because of his important contribution to the development of Balinese arts.

Furthermore, the ARMA Museum grounds are serene; surrounded by rice fields, you will find traditional Balinese pavilions to rest in and beautiful gardens to stroll through. There are also hotel rooms available for booking and you can always have dinner at the wonderful restaurant!

A nice side note: they are a living culture that is implemented trough their picturesque well landscaped accommodation. Their banquet teams caters many function, from wedding, inauguration, meeting to birthday celebration.

The NEKA Art Museum, Ubud

_{Neka Art Museum}

The Neka Art Museum opened in 1982.

It is named after a Balinese teacher called Suteja Neka who collected paintings as a means of artistic documentation. Nowadays, the museum has an impressive collection of artworks by many famous Balinese artists and expats that lived there and influenced local artists. You will also find the works of Rudolf Bonnet and Antonio Maria Blanco here.

_{One of the rooms with Dutch artists at the museum}

Arie Smit (The Netherlands 1916-Bali 2016) was a close personal friend of Seteja Neka and has been featured in several exhibitions here. The exhibition pavilions are situated in a beautiful garden and are definitely worth a visit.

_{Arie Smit, Balinese Youth (Pemuda Bali), oil on canvas, 1980}

Museum Puri Lukisan, Ubud

 _{The Puri Lukisan Museum}

The Puri Lukisan is Bali’s oldest museum, specialized in modern traditional Balinese paintings and wood carvings. The museum is located in Ubud and houses a fine collection that spans from the pre-Independence war (1930–1945) to the post-Independence war (1945 – present) era.

The collection includes important examples of all of the important artistic styles in Bali, including the Sanur, Batuan, Ubud, Young Artist and Keliki schools.

Museum Le Majeur, Sanur

_{The Museum Le Majeur at Sanur beach}

Near Bali’s capital, Denpassar, lies the small coastal village of Sanur. Here you will find the Museum Le Majeur, a memorial dedicated to the Brussels born painter Adrien-Jean Le Majeur de Merprès (1880-1958). The artist was so impressed by the charming shores of Sanur that he moved there, dedicating his entire life to the two things that he loved the most: the arts and women. He eventually married his model and muse, Ni Pollok – a local dancer that was famous for her 'assets'.

_{A room inside the museum at Sanur Beachfront  (Jalan Hang Tuah)}

Le Majeur worked in an impressionist style and created a wide range of artworks. His technique was considered unorthodox, albeit in a brilliant way.

Le Majeur utilized thick and rather stiff brushes to create sharp yet fluent caresses, which were later elaborated on by Antonio Blanco, another influential painter in Bali. His private museum can be found in Ubud.

_{Adrien-Jean Le Majeur de Merprès painting his wife and muse Ni Pollok at his house and studio in Sanur
(collection Tropenmuseum Amsterdam)}

Le Majeur and Ni Pollok did not have any children so they bequeathed their mansion and its legacy to the Indonesian government. If you have time to visit the beautiful beaches at Sanur, stop by this amazing time capsule!

Selamat jalan!

_{Royal palace at Ubud}

Interested in discovering more art from Bali or Indonesia? Please have a look at Gallerease!