Neka

[Marcokeris]

Here the depliant:

[ganjawulung]

Dear Marco and All,

I'm sorry for joining this discussion so late. I'd like to add some informations on Neka Art Museum in Ubud, especially on its permanent exhibition on keris. I had visited this museum too on February and met with Mr Neka, the owner. (Pls see the photo below, Mr Neka hold the marvelous keris of Tantri Singa-Lembu or Lion Fighting Bull from Tantri Fable, 15th century). I had taken these photos with his permission.

This Neka Keris Museum is also a place where you can see good "documentations" of contemporary kerises which were made by contemporary empus and still living Indonesian keris makers. Altogether, there are total 218 kerises -- including 18 old Balinese keris heritages. It exhibits permanently -- not only kerises which were made by Balinese keris maker like Ketut Mudra, or young Madurese keris maker like Moh Basri -- but also kerises which were made by javanese keris makers like the late Empu Djeno from Jogjakarta. Or Solonese keris maker like Subandi Supaningrat, Sukamdi, Suyanto etc.

The Keris Museum in Ubud is only a small part of the greater Neka Art Museum which were built on a hill-site of about 10.000 m2, not far from the Spanish painter's gallery Antonio Blanco. Hundreds of very fine paintings are exhibited in more than 7 galleries. From various traditional Balinese paintings, to foreign paintings like of Arie Smit (Holland) during his staying in Bali.

Neka himself is a real collector, although he has also keris-maker blood. That is why he bears name "Pande" (Pande Wayan Suteja Neka) in front of his name. He said to me, that now he stop collecting new paintings but beginning collecting kerises. The establishment of permanent keris exhibition is also meant for commemorating the 25th aniversary of his gallery, on July 27, 2007, He said, he was inspired to make keris museum after visiting a keris exhibition in Bentara Budaya Jakarta on 1996.

It takes about an hour by (hiring) car from Kuta. And you will see so many art galleries in this Ubud site -- as you know already. Not only Neka Gallery, or Antonio Blanco Gallery. Ubud, is really an interesting place to visit for anybody who loves paintings and also kerises...

(Pictures below, four photos of keris Tantri Singa-Lembu, and then one photo each of 13th century keris pijetan of old Balinese kingdom of Karangasem, keris with 5 luks Singa Barong of Gianyar kingdom, and keris of Puri Agung Karangasem named Ki Baju Rante 17th century...)

GANJAWULUNG (April 3, 2008)

[David]

Thank you both, Marco and Ganja, for this great additional information. I am glad to hear that this exhibition is permanent, because i know that i will make my way to Bali someday!
That keris pejetan has me drooling a bit....as does the singa barong...

[A. G. Maisey]

Well done Pak Ganja!

Thank you!

Is this exhibition permanent, or does it close on 22 August? I thought I read somewhere that it only ran until 22 August.

[ganjawulung]

Originally Posted by David

Thank you both, Marco and Ganja, for this great additional information. I am glad to hear that this exhibition is permanent, because i know that i will make my way to Bali someday!
That keris pejetan has me drooling a bit....as does the singa barong...

Yes David, you ought to go to Bali someday to see this marvelous exhibition. This paintings collector, Suteja Neka said he also became fascinated by keris and began learning keris as much as he could when he watched keris making in Pura Penataran in September 2006. At that time, the Pura Penataran Pande Peliatan blacksmith clan temple south of Ubud held a huge rededication ceremony. For this, its members had a new Balinese keris made. During a ritual forging of the blade in June, men took turns hammering the red-hot metal at the home of the temple's priest. Suteja Neka -- the senior person of the Pura -- overseeing the ceremonies.

Originally Posted by A. G. Maisey

Well done Pak Ganja!

Thank you!

Is this exhibition permanent, or does it close on 22 August? I thought I read somewhere that it only ran until 22 August.

According to Mr Neka, this is a permanent exhibition. And he said, that he will enlarge and enlarge the museum in the future, and add all the time the number of keris collection.

GANJAWULUNG (April 4, 2008)

[A. G. Maisey]

Thanks Pak Ganja.

[Marcokeris]

David
If you will make your way to Bali someday i will be happy to give you some advice about places where to see (...and buy) keris or keris handles.
Ganja
I must tell you thank you for your help to see Neka Museum.....and to take photos

[David]

Originally Posted by Marcokeris

David
If you will make your way to Bali someday i will be happy to give you some advice about places where to see (...and buy) keris or keris handles.
Ganja
I must tell you thank you for your help to see Neka Museum.....and to take photos

Thanks Marco. When the time comes i will be sure to enlist the assistance of all willing to give me advice on such matters.