The Harmony of Style at the Rudana Museum

Inaugurated in December of 1995 by President Suharto, the Rudana Museum is a jewel of art among the rice paddies of Peliatan, designed and built by Nyoman Rudana according to the concept of harmony found in the traditional Balinese philosophy of Tri Hita Karana, for which art, like every other aspect of life, contributes to common well-being. Artists are considered beings that, through their minds, souls and senses, give life to artistic creations representing their own epochs, thus contributing to the cultural progress of civilisation. Heading through the large gardens dotted with sculptures of elephants, where the Statue of Peace called for by Nyoman Rudana can be found, one enters the main hall of the museum. Here, there is a pleasurable and comfortable atmosphere. In this enchanting eco-museum, there is no air-conditioning but, rather, a ventilation system designed with total respect for the environment and, thus, totally energy-efficient, just as the works of art and the spacious rooms are exclusively illuminated with a natural lighting system. On the three floors that make up the museum are more than four-hundred works, including paintings and sculptures, by famous classical, modern and post-modern Indonesian and Balinese artists but also international artists as well. From the renowned works of historical greats like I Gusti Nyoman Lempad and I Gusti Ketut Kobot, to the Balinese dancers of Nyoman Gunarsa and the abstract work of Made Budhiana, from the dreamlike works of celebrated Spanish artist Antonio Blanco to the multicoloured symbolism of Russian master Yuri Gorbachev.