Balinese art
Pita Maha Foundation
In 1936 the prince of Ubud, Rudolf Bonnet, Walter Spies and several Balinese artists, including I Gusti Nyoman Lempad, established an artist’s society called the Pita Maha Foundation. Objective of this association was to support Balinese artists in maintaining a high artistic standard through discussions of their work and promotion through exhibitions outside Bali. The foundation ended when the Japanese invaded Bali in 1942.
The Puri Lukisan Museum
After the war Rudolf Bonnet and the Prince of Ubud, Tjokorda Gde Agung Sukawati, developed plans to establish a museum of fine art. A ‘Palace of the Arts’ on the island would boost local awareness of Balinese art. First they established a new foundation in 1953, the Yayasan Ratna Warta, to support the establishment of the museum in Ubud. Bonnet designed the building in Balinese style, which was constructed from local materials.
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Pita Maha Foundation
In 1936 the prince of Ubud, Rudolf Bonnet, Walter Spies and several Balinese artists, including I Gusti Nyoman Lempad, established an artist’s society called the Pita Maha Foundation. Objective of this association was to support Balinese artists in maintaining a high artistic standard through discussions of their work and promotion through exhibitions outside Bali. The foundation ended when the Japanese invaded Bali in 1942.
The Puri Lukisan Museum
After the war Rudolf Bonnet and the Prince of Ubud, Tjokorda Gde Agung Sukawati, developed plans to establish a museum of fine art. A ‘Palace of the Arts’ on the island would boost local awareness of Balinese art. First they established a new foundation in 1953, the Yayasan Ratna Warta, to support the establishment of the museum in Ubud. Bonnet designed the building in Balinese style, which was constructed from local materials.The foundation stone was laid at the end of January 1954, by the then Prime Minister of Indonesia Mr Ali Sastroamidjojo. Bonnet also designed the surrounding gardens with their profusion of flowering shrubs and a lotus pond to complement the works of art. The plans included the construction of three pavilions. The first pavilion was completed in 1956 and was officially opened by the then Indonesian Minister of Education and Culture. Mr Mohammad Yamin. The other two pavilions flanked the main building. The collection consisted of drawings and woodcarvings made by Balinese artists after 1928. Many of the works came from Bonnet’s own collection that he had brought together since his arrival in Bali in 1929. He donated this collection to the new museum. Inspired by his generosity, many other private individuals donated works to the museum. The Puri Lukisan Museum still resonates with the spirit of Rudolf Bonnet. The works on display, especially in the main building, were chosen by Bonnet and show Bonnet’s continuing influence on Balinese painting.
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