Established by the former Prince of Ubud, this art museum is Bali’s oldest and offers a wonderful insight into traditional and modern Balinese art.
From its name meaning ‘palace of paintings’, Puri Lukisan is all about just that, paintings! This museum which is the oldest on the island boasts an impressive collection of traditional paintings by Balinese artists alongside wood carvings and more contemporary exhibits.< br /> The majority of the collection here focuses on Balinese art with an historic and cultural significance but there is also a good range of exhibits from European artists who chose to make the island their home. Amongst these are the German painter Walter Spies and the Dutch painter Rudolf Bonnet who was a hugely influential member of Bali’s artistic community. Bonnet was the founding member of Pita Maha, an artists’ cooperative that was formed in 1936 with a view to supporting Bali’s artists and promoting their work. He enlisted the help of Ubud’s prince at that time, Tjokorda Gde Agung Sukwati and together they went on to form the Puri Lukisan Museum which opened in 1954 with Bonnet as its initial curator. Whilst both men died in 1978, the fruits of their work are still very much in evidence here today.The collection is spread across different galleries. The oldest being Pitamaha which houses paintings by several influential Europeans who worked in Bali with the cooperative.In the remaining galleries, you can see wonderful examples of Kamasan style work which originated in Java and is widely recognised as the archetypal traditional Balinese style. There is a large collection that focuses on classic Balinese scenes and traditions with more modern, post 1950s work also on display. If you venture into the grounds outside the galleries you will see wonderful examples of wood carvings. You could easily spend a few hours here such is the breadth of work on display. There is also a café on site where you can buy refreshments. The gallery also has a gift shop and book store. There is a whole programme of events hosted throughout the year including interactive workshops which focus on Balinese craft traditions such as painting and woodwork, alongside dancing and music workshops. For exact details of all these events and pricing information, check the museum’s website.Situated on Ubud’s main street, Museum Puri Lukisan is easily accessible. There is free parking on site. The museum opens every but is closed for major public holidays. Visitors over the age of 15 have to pay an admission fee. It is worth noting that the use of flash photography and camera tripods is not permitted. The majority of works on display have signage and descriptions in English.
