Puri Lukisan Museum: A Hub of Renowned Balinese Artworks

If you enjoy art and are eager to learn about culture through drawings, then this museum should be on your bucket list. This museum contains a wide selection of traditional Balinese paintings, woodcarvings, and contemporary Balinese artwork. A welcome respite from Bali's bustling towns can be found in the museum's serene galleries of exquisite local artwork and its lushly landscaped grounds. The Puri Lukisan Museum is the perfect place to visit in Ubud to get away from the summertime heat, One of the best thing to do in Bali.

It is possible to visit the Puri Lukisan Museum at any time, regardless of the season (high or low). The Puri Lukisan Museum is open from nine in the morning until five in the evening. The museum could be used as a respite from the tropical heat during the afternoon. The only time the museum is closed is on Nyepi Day (Day of Silence).

Art has always been a fundamental part of Bali's culture since its inception. The Kamasan school, which produced the Ramayana and Mahabaratha paintings, was one of Bali's traditional painting techniques. The modern European and Kamasan school styles are combined to create the Batuan style. Up until this point, most of the paintings had crowded compositions. A new painting style known as the Ubud style emerged later in the 1920s, focusing primarily on paintings of everyday life. Dutch artist Rudolph Bonnet kept an eye on this and influenced it. The distinctive quality of this style is that it placed a greater emphasis on common people's lives than on religion or royalty. Pitahama Artist Cooperative was established in Ubud at this time by their king and western painters like Rudolph Bonnet and Walter Spies. Their main goal was to uphold and protect Bali's unique art traditions. In the early 1950s, the Indonesian President subsequently established this as a museum. Since then, this museum's infrastructure has undergone continuous improvement.

The museum’s general landscape is a mixture of lovely gardens with lotus ponds and the four buildings in different directions that house the paintings of Bali people created at different times.

• East Wing: Collection of the early style of Wayang Paintings dating back to the 10th century.
• West Wing:  Drawings of artisans during the 20th century.
• North Wing: Drawings of artisans during the pre-world war era.
• South Wing: Contains some exemplary drawings and the history of the museum.

The museum also houses the artwork of famous artisans like Ida Bagus Nyana and Gusti Nyoman Lempad. In addition, the garden is filled with lovely sculptures, and one can stroll around it to appreciate its beauty. One could opt to sit back and relax in the park’s surroundings. 

The artwork is all clearly labelled in English, Japanese, and Indonesian, so comprehension shouldn't be a problem. The entire museum can be explored in under two hours. 

Visitors to the museum can choose to eat a meal or snacks in the on-site restaurant. A complimentary drink is also given to the guests. Additionally, there are a number of workshops that teach painting, wood carving, and dance taking place on the premises.

With the aid of a private vehicle or a taxi, this museum could be reached from the Bali International Airport in less than two hours. The cost of taking the bus to get to the museum is lower. One could also reach here from the nearby tourist cities like Canggu, Denpasar, Sukawati and Manggis. It is advised to rent a scooter if you plan to travel around Ubud. The Ubud art market is close by, and it is possible to walk there from the museum.

Ubud Art Market

A great place to find locally made souvenirs like silk scarves, airy shirts, statues, kites, and many other handcrafted items is the Ubud Art Market. The market, known locally as Pasar Seni Ubud, is 150 meters to the right of Puri Lukisan Museum and is open every day. The majority of the goods sold at the Ubud Market are produced in the nearby villages of Peliatan, Tegallalang, Payangan, and Pengosekan.  

Campuhan Ridge walk

The Campuhan Ridge walk is situated 650 meters to the right of the Puri Lukisan Museum. The simple and cost-free Campuhan Ridge Walk is a favourite among frequent visitors to Ubud, a town in the central highlands. Take this trail through a pristine outback to escape Bali's busy island cities. Just below the main road, on a concrete pathway, is where the main entrance can be found. Some notable features of this attraction include the view of the greenery on both sides, the rivers, and the majestic temple.

• Flashlight photography and tripods are not allowed inside the Puri Lukisan Museum.
• Inside the Puri Lukisan Museum, keep your noise to a minimum.
• When visiting the Puri Lukisan Museum, act appropriately.
• Keep a safe distance between you and the art in Puri Lukisan Museum.

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