Traveljunkieindonesia.com – Welcome to Bali, welcome to Travel Junkies life. An island rich in culture and religion. Sometimes a museum can be a destination in and of itself. Even if you don’t understand all of it, you most likely will leave feeling impressed and amazed.
Travel Junkie Indonesia compiled this list based on the popularity of the museums and the famous works of art they have in their possessions.
So get out and take in a little culture on your next vacation or trip and stop by one of these museums.
1. Bali Museum
Jl. Letkol Wisnu – Open Daily, except Mondays, 8 a.m. – 3 p.m. This museum is the main attraction of Denpasar, and it’s a good one. It gained prominence in 1932 when German artist Walter Spies and some Dutch officials revived the idea of collecting and preserving Balinese antiquities and cultural object, and creating an etnographic museum.
2. Gedong Kirtya Library & Museum
Jalan Veteran, Singaraja, Open 7 a.m – 3 p.m. This small historical library and museum was established in 1928 by Dutch colonialists and named after the Sanskrit word ‘to try’. It has a collection of lontar (dried palm leaves) books as well as some even older written works.
3. Agung Rai Museum of Art (ARMA)
Jl. Pengosekan – Open Daily, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. Founded by Agung Rai as a museum. The only place in Bali to see works by the influential German artist Walter Spies. It also has work by 19th-century Javanese artist Raden Saleh.
4. Blanco Renaissance Museum
Campuan, Ubud – Open Daily, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. A driveway leads to the superbly theatrical Blanco Renaissance Museum and house of Antonio Blanco. He came to Bali from Spain via the Philippines. Blanco specialised in erotic art, illustrated poetry and playing the role of an eccentric, self adulatory artist. He died in Bali in 1999, and his flamboyant home is now a museum and a fun place to visit.
5. Museum Rudana
Jl. Cok Rai Pudak, Peliatan – Open Daily, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Run by local politician and art lover Nyoman Rudana. The three floors contain interesting traditional paintings, including a calendar dated to the 1840s, some Lempad drawings and mode modernpieces.
6. Neka Art Museum
Jl. Raya Campuan – Open Daily, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. The creationof Suteja Neka, a private collector and dealer in Balinese art. It has an excellent and diverse collection and is the best place to learn about the development of painting in Bali.
7. Puri Lukisan Museum
Jl. Raya Ubud – Open Daily, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. This Palace of Fine Arts, displays excellent examples of all schools of Balinese art. The modern Balinese art movement started in ubud, where artists first used modern materials, were influenced by foreign styles and began to depict scenes of everyday Balinese life. – museumpurilukisan.com
8. Museum Semarajaya
Jl Untung Suropati, Semarapura – This recently renovated museum has an interesting collection of archaeological and other pieces. There are exhibits of songket weaving, salt-making, palm toddy and palm-sugar extraction, and a moving display about the 1908 puputan, along with some interesting old photos.
9. Museum Purbakala
Jl Raya Tampaksiring, Open Daily, 8 a.m. – 3 p.m. This archaelogical museum has a reasonable collection of artefacts from all over Bali, and most displays are in English. This exhibits in several small buidings in clude some of Bali’s first pottery from near Gilimanuk, and sarcophagi dating from as early as 300 BC – some originating from Bangli are carved in the shape of a turtle, which has important cosmic associations in Balinese mythology.
10. Museum of Fingerprint Paintings
Jl. Hayam Wuruk 175, Denpasar – The museum was inaugurated in 1995, founded by an artist named Bali’s Ngurah Gede Pamecetun. Museum exhibits paintings by Gede Ngurah Pamecutan using his fingertips to make the painting (not a brush). The idea of this painting came from an accident at work on the painting “Baris dance” which is considered failed, he was correct only to polish colors are tip of his finger. But once completed, the picture looks very beautiful because it formed an unusual shades.
11. Bali Shell Museum
Jl Sunset Road, Kuta – Since childhood Mr. Stephen (the owner) has been interesting in sea shells, and during those years he started collecting them. After getting his university degree on architecture, he decided to begin his journey. Now, he is travelling to find shells and to sell them, joining also lot of exhibitions all over the world, Germany, France, USA, Singapore, Malaysia and more. Bali Shell Museum is his dream that finally comes true. The museum will be also affiliated with other shells museums in Thailand, Japan, and USA. – balishellmuseum.com
12. Museum Pasifika
BTDC Area Block P Nusa Dua – This museum is the home of an extensive collection of artworks from all over the Asian Pacific region. With over 600 works on permanent display, the museum is an important complement to the scores of public museums in Bali and the region. – museum-pasifika.com
13. Museum Subak
Jalan Gatot Subroto, Sanggulan Village, Kediri District, Tabanan – This museum is a museum colleting the Balinese traditional agriculture tools and old documentation to remind all young generation about Subak Organization which has famous in the world.
14. Museum Buleleng
Jalan Veteran, Singaraja – Many historical and archeological remains are found here and there in this part of the island. A Museum which illustrates and all at once conserves the existence of civilization of Northern Balinese becomes so significant. – museumbuleleng.com
15. Nyoman Gunara Museum
In Klungkung regency, Nyoman Gunarsa is an artist whose work based on Balinese folklore and Hindu legends. Gunarsa paintings by contemporary style. Nyoman Gunarsa Museum is a private museum run by his staf. Inside the museum, built in 1994, there are two types of display space is for a classic Balinese paintings, and modern paintings by the number of about 250 paintings.
16. Museum Le Mayeur
Jl. Hang Tuah, Sanur – Open Daily, except Fridays, 8 a.m. – 3 p.m. This Museum is definitely a must-see place in Bali for the simple reason that some of Belgian artist Andrien Jean Le Mayeur‘s finest paintings of his lovely wife Ni Pollok. The works from the 1950s are in much better condition and show fewer signs of wear and tear, displaying the vibrant colours that later became popular with young Balinese artists. Look for the haunting black-and-white photos of Ni Polok.
17. Museum of Marketing 3.0
At Museum Puri Lukisan Jalan Raya Ubud, this museum to showcase story of marketing practices undertaken by those of the individuals and companies that have a soul and spirit of 3.0, a spiritual value and love that upholds “people, planet, and prosperity.” Tourism Ubud, which is now a major sector for the people there, until now still maintain spiritual values. – mm3-ubud.org
18. Museum Cartoon Indonesia
Jl Sunset Road 85 Kuta, Open daily 10 a.m – 5 p.m. This museum have many meaningful, a fun place to visit and educated works. And, very good to see the chronological history of our people in a humorous yet smart way through a cartoon museum. – wisatakartunbali.com
Happy Green Travels!
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