To gain the fullest understanding of Bali's culture and art history, it is worth visiting the oldest of the existing Balinese art museums, which is located in famous Ubud. The museum is called "Puri Lukisan," and its history de facto begins in 1936, when an artists' community was founded by the king of Ubud and his brother. The goals of the community were the promotion of modern Balinese art and the preservation of cultural heritage.
De jure, the museum opened in 1956, after several years of construction work. Puri Lukisan consists of three buildings - the northern, western, and eastern. The northern wing houses paintings by artists of the pre-war era, that is, from 1930 to 1945, as well as a collection of works by the famous Balinese sculptor I Gusti Nyoman Lempad.
In the western part of the museum, the main emphasis is placed on the exhibition dedicated to the artist Ida Bagus Made. The Indonesian shadow theater Wayang, or rather illustrations and objects associated with it, can be seen in the eastern building, where temporary exhibitions are also held.
In general, Balinese art is distinguished by a tendency toward religious and mythological motifs, but the Balinese also have a talent for absorbing the experience of other cultures, so a certain eclecticism is allowed in their self-expression, which does not spoil the overall picture in the least, but on the contrary, adds a special charm even to the simplest things.
