Indonesia is a nation that is incredibly rich where culture is concerned. The country is currently entering an era of newfound prosperity and success and as much as it is beneficial, it has the potential to undermine a nation’s culture amidst all the economic development and influence of globalisation. One place where you can truly experience aspects of Indonesian culture is the Neka Art Musem, which is situated in Ubud. This is a district located in the holiday destination of Bali, with many establishments such as COMO Uma Ubud which is a luxury resort in the heart of Ubud.
The museum was established by Suteja Neka, a Balinese teacher and art aficionado. He eventually left his teaching occupation to pursue a future in dealing and handling artwork. Once he realised that he is selling precious Balinese art to buyers who are taking them out of the country, he decided to invest in a platform to showcase these amazing works within the country itself. His motivations became abundantly clear during a trip abroad with Dutch artist Rudolf Bonnet in which he glimpsed Balinese paintings in foreign museums. He realised these works of fine art were exquisite and could not be seen in their homeland.
The museum itself is built to resemble traditional Balinese architecture, and consists of multiple buildings with each of them having a specific theme. The first gallery is dedicated towards classical paintings exclusively. The Arie Smit section features works from the namesake as well as creations by the Young Artist School who were greatly influenced by Smit.
Probably the most essential exhibit worth experiencing is the Contemporary Indonesian Art Hall which features work from artists all over the nation. There’s even a large collection of ceremonial daggers to be seen upstairs of the lobby.
If you find yourself in Indonesia, or especially Bali, the Neka Art Museum is definitely one of the best places to check out.
Caleb Falcon is a travel writer who specializes in writing content based on the many exciting world adventures that await intrepid travellers.
