The grounds and galleries of the Neka Museum
The Neka Art Museum sits up on the hill in the Tjampuhan area on the west side of the Tjampuhan River. The museum has its orgins in the 1970s when Pande Wayan Suteja Neka realized that there was no repository for traditional Balinese arts in Bali itself. He started collecting works and building the museum, which was officially recognized by the Indonesian government in 1982.
Detail of work by Ida Bagus Nyoman Rai
The museum is housed in several Balinese styled buildings, laid out in the style of a traditional housing compound. The first building provides an overview of the different styles of traditional art. The Arie Smit Pavilion is half filled with the work of the Dutch-born artist Arie Smit, while the other have has significant works by other contemporary artists such as Ida Bagus Nyoman Rai (a personal favorite). There's a photography pavilion with some very interesting pictures from the late 1930s.
Additional galleries display works by artists from other parts of Indonesia as well as some paintings by international artists who came to Bali such as Bonnet. In a special gallery above the reception area a huge quantity of traditional keris daggers is on display. There are really too many to take in, but it is quite interesting.
The Neka Museum is open 9:00 am to 5:00 pm every day. Admission is 40,000 Rupiah (2.40 USD). See the Neka Art Museum web site for more information.