A big nation is a nation that appreciated ones’ history. Because, however, the history is what forms a nation. Included in it is the track of its art and culture. If you want to trace down history to know more about your own country, what better place there is to be visited?

The museum. Yes, the place that became a specter if you imagined a gloomy old building, full of dust. While at the same time, museum was actually established as the institution that served the public’s need of knowledge, openly, by collecting, conserving, doing researches and exhibited this work to the community.

Did you know, etymologically, the museum came from the Greek word, mouseion, which actually refers to the name of the temple for nine of Muses Goddesses? The nine goddesses essentially was children of the God Zeus that symbolized knowledge and art.

Interested to trace towards the history of Balinese art and culture? Why not visit some, or even the entire available museum in Bali? And when would be the right time to do it if not now? Moreover after the government appointed this year as the Museum Visit Year. Now, you don’t have anymore reason to not knowing the root of your own nation’s culture.

Why don’t we start with the gate to Bali’s hidden world of art, Museum Rudana, in the Village of Mas, where you can enjoy varying of Indonesian maestros from the classic school up to today’s piece of work. And head straight to the Nyuh Kuning to meet the single museum in the whole Bali to exhibit sculptures only.

If you are keen on seeing another form of art that also depicts Balinese cultural history well, then you should go to the Runa Jewellry Museum. With Runi Palar and Adrian Palar, the artist (husband-painter, wife-jewellry designer) couple that shows their love in art and each other by establishing this museum.

Now, as you approach the heart of Ubud, you will come across another museum known as the Agung Rai Museum of Art (ARMA) that was named in accordance with its founder, Agung Rai. Here you will see works from local and national artists as well as international artists. What’s interesting is that ARMA also opens traditional dance and sculpting classes for children.

Other museums that are also famous is the Blanco Museum that exhibited paintings of the art maestro of Antonio Blanco, Museum Neka, Museum Gunarsa, Museum Sidik of the Finger and the Pasifika Museum.

As an addition to them, there are also at least 4 museums that enlightened the history of the human culture since the prehistoric time until the colonial era, such as the Museum Bali, Museum Perjuangan Rakyat, Museum Gedong Arca and Museum Subak.

So, prepare yourselves for a new manner of adventure in this island, and have a good time!


Courtesy of Bali and Beyond, www.baliandbeyond.co.id