Museum Pasifika: A showcase of the universal message of art in Bali

One of the many cultural attractions of Bali is the Museum Pasifika, launched in 2006 in the Nusa Dua complex. It features artistic themes from Indonesia and other Asia-Pacific countries, rendered by artists from Europe and Asia.

“We hope to provide Bali residents, Indonesian visitors, and overseas tourists a brief introduction to some of the Asia Pacific’s unique variety of cultural artefacts,” museum co-founder Philippe Augier writes in the curatorial notes.

The museum aims to preserve and promote cultural artefacts along with dialogue among the creative community. It was designed by Balinese architect Popo Danes and houses 11 large exhibition rooms.

In addition to regular exhibitions, the museum is host to a number of local and international cultural activities as well. These include seminars, workshops, and concerts of classical music.

The gallery’s visitors range from students and tourists to business leaders and heads of state. For example, India’s Vice President Hamid Ansari visited the gallery in 2015.

Museum Pasifika has also expressed a commitment to implement the objectives of the four pillars of Indonesia’s sustainable tourism practice, published by the Ministry of Tourism. It has won the Indonesian Sustainable Tourism Award and also helped bring back and restore exceptional artworks of Indonesia from overseas locations.

The exhibition lineup includes artists from Bali and other parts of Indonesia, as well as Dutch, Portuguese, Italian, French, and Mexican painters and sculptors. For example, one showcase features Indochinese participants of the Beaux-Arts School in Hanoi.

The works of Indonesian masters Lempad, Affandi, Hendra and Kobot are among the 50 regional artists in the collection. There are also sculptures and masks from ten different nations of the Pacific, including Vanuatu, Fiji, Tonga, Wallis, and Futuna.

Visitors to the museum will appreciate works like the Pacific Pageant mural, Romualdo Locatelli’s Balinese legong dancer, Malvina Hoffman’s Javanese dancer, and Laotian sculptures by Evariste Jonchere and Le Pho.

In addition to local showcases, Museum Pasifika has participated in 14 international exhibitions. These include venues in Jakarta, Singapore, France, the Netherlands, and Germany.

The museum believes that art plays a significant role in the world of education. It has arranged visits for thousands of school students to introduce them to the global appeal of art at the museum.

In addition to exhibitions and seminars, the museum has documented a range of art collections and practices. It has published over 20 books and catalogues on art, including two major, widely-regarded cultural titles.

In sum, Bali is a shining example of the diversity of Indonesia’s vast archipelago of 17,000 islands. In addition to celebrating the multiple dimensions of art, Museum Pasifika also affirms that art and creativity can truly cut across boundaries.

Now, what have you done today to pause in your busy schedule and harness your creative side for a better world?

(All photographs were taken by Madanmohan Rao on location at Museum Pasifika in Bali.)