During the great Bharatayudha war in the Hindu Mahabharata epic, Aswatama accuses his fellow Korawa warrior Salya of causing the death of their leader Karna. While arguing they change in monstrous parmurtian (demonic transformation). Both of them derive their powers from Rudra, a terrifying form of Siwa, God of Destruction and Reincarnation. With many heads and arms bearing weapons, they are capable of destroying the universe. Other Korawa warriors, however, attempt to keep them from fighting each other. In the upper comers the warriors depart, having calmed-down and returned to their normal forms.

DEMONIC TRANSFORMATION (PERUBAHAN KEJAM)

In order to release the soul from its earthly bonds and enable its reincarnation, the Balinese Hindus believe that the physical body must be destroyed in a cremation ceremony called pangabenan or palebon. The mortal remains are burned in an animal-shaped patulangan (sarcophagus) made of wood, bamboo, cloth, and paper. Numerous offerings are presented to the dead, demons, and deities to ensure the soul's safe journey to the netherworld. Essential to nearly every Balinese ritual is music provided by an ensemble of gongs and drums.

CREMATION (UPACARA PEMBAKARAN MAYAT)

RAJAPALA STEAL SULASIH'S CLOTHES (RAJAPALA MENCURI PAKAIAN SULASIH)

THE PANDAWAS IN DISGUISE (PARA PANDAWA MENYAMAR)

AROUND A VILLAGE (DI SEKITAR DESA)

BATTLE AT KURUSETRA (PERANG DI KURUSETRA)

VILLAGERS (ORANG - ORANG DESA)

TWO WOMEN IN A GARDEN (DUA WANITA DI KEBUN)

THE LEATHER PUPPET (WAYANG KULIT)

THE DEATH OF ABHIMANYU (ABHIMANYU GUGUR)

SELF - DEFENSE DANCERS (PENARI PENCAK SILAT)

PORTRAIT OF A BALINESE DANCER (WAJAH SEORANG PENARI BALI)

OFFERINGS TO THE RICE GODDESS (SESAJEN UNTUK DEWI SRI)

OFFERING DANCE (TARI PENDET)

JARATKARU VISITS HELL (JARATKARU MENGUNJUNGI NERAKA)

BUSY BALI (KERAMAIAN DI BALI)

BUMBLEBEE DANCE (TARI OLEG TAMBULILINGAN)

BRAHMA RIDING ON WILMANA (BRAHMA MENUNGGANG WILMANA)

BARONG AND RANGDA DANCE (TARI BARONG DAN RANGDA)

SELF - PORTRAIT (PORTRAIT DIRI)

GALUNGAN CELEBRATION (HARI RAYA GALUNGAN)

NUDE (TELANJANG)

CEREMONY AT THE BESAKIH TEMPLE (UPACARA DI PURA BESAKIH)

BEAUTY IN MYSTERY (KECANTIKAN DALAM KEGAIBAN)

DIALOGUE IN THE DANCER WORLD (DIALOG DUNIA PENARI)

PORTRAIT OF A BALINESE YOUTH (WAJAH SEORANG REMAJA BALI)

ORCHID (BUNGA ANGGREK)

LOW TIDE (AIR LAUT SURUT)

GALUNGAN HOLIDAY (HARI RAYA GALUNGAN)

CORNER OF THE VILLAGE (SUDUT DI DESA)

ON THE ROAD FROM ABANG TO CULIK (JALAN DARI ABANG KE CULIK)

NIGHTFALL IN BALI (SENJAKALA DI BALI)

MOUNTAINS EAST BALI (PEGUNUNGAN DI BALI TIMUR)

LANDSCAPE WITH COULDS (PEMANDANGAN DENGAN AWAN - AWAN)

LANDSCAPE BALI (PEMANDANGAN BALI)

LANDSCAPE (PEMANDANGAN DENGAN SAWAH)

LANDSCAPE (PEMANDANGAN ALAM)

IN THE VILLAGE (DI DESA)

GARDEN (KEBUN)

FLOWERS IN A COPPER VASE (BUNGA DALAM POT TEMBAGA)

IF A MUSEUM is only a collection of art or its buildings, then it has no purpose. A museum is successful only if it provides a sense of history, development, and continuity. While individual pieces can be fascinating by the themselves, when properly presented they all fit together like the parts of a puzzle and form a complete picture.

The Neka Art Museum, previously known as the Neka Museum, is unique because its collection of foreign artworks by Balinese, other Indonesian, and foreign artists all were inspired by the natural beauty, life, and culture of Bali. The high quality of the Neka Art Museum’s collection serves as a source of inspiration, information, research, and education for many people in Indonesia and from abroad. In this way, future generations of artists, especially in Bali, can benefit from it and develop their place in the national and global communities, while visitors gain a better understanding and appreciation of Balinese art and culture. The Neka Art Museum now is recognized as an institute of international standing.

Finnaly, we hope that The Neka Art Museum will lead artists and art lovers alike to learn more about the richness of Balinese art and culture, a source that as inspired many and will continue to provide artistic inspiration for generations to come.

Neka Art Museum

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