Taman Budaya - Art Center Bali

Art Centre of Bali Province is a masterpiece work of Balinese
architect of this twentieth century. All buildings refer to the
Balinese architecture along with its requirements, so when entering
to this location, you will fell the traditional aura of Bali.
Art Centre was founded on the idea of Prof.Dr.Ida Bagus Mantra.
It means to conserve the Balinese art and culture. Situated on
Jalan Nusa Indah, Sumerta Kelod Village, East Denpasar or some
1, 5 km east of Denpasar.
The Art Centre is established on 5 hectares land with three
zonal divisions namely: sacred or tranquil zone encompassing Widya
Kusuma Library building, Pepaosan Amerta Saraswati pavilion, Taman
Beji Temple, Slonding Pavilion and Ayodya Stage. Demi tranquil
zone consist of kiddies playground, electric transformer, water
tower, Gili Pavilion, Bale Kambang (floating pavilion), Gajah
Mina Bridge, Mandara Giri Bhuwana main exhibition hall, Krya Sembrani
Occaishcrawa Building, Wantilan Hall, Kumbakarna Kerebut Sculpture,
Sculpture Studio, Painting Studio and artist Dormitory. Art Centre
has two large size locations of art performing, namely Ardhacandra
amphitheatre and Ksirarnawa closed stage. Ardhacandra measures
7, 2000 square meters with spectator capacity reaching 7,000 persons.
This open stage is utilized for colossal performance such as
sendratari (dance and drama), drama gong, festival of gong kebyar
and music. Meanwhile, at space underneath occurs showroom that
made use of exhibiting handicraft product of small scale industry
in Bali on annual Bali Art Festival.
Ksirarnawa was inaugurated on 17 July 1986. Extent of the
building is 5,500 square meters with two floors. Upper floor is
used for performance having capacity of 1,500 persons. In addition,
Ksirarnawa is frequently used to hold seminar, conference and
other meetings. This floor is equipped with two toilet room and
four gazebos for relaxing. Eastern block of lower floor used for
administration office, while that western for workshop room of
painting, dance studio and theatre exercise.
Right in front of Ardhacandra open stage lies a small open
stage. On the right side of Angsoka Stage used for small-scale
presentation. Then on the left side occurs the Ratna Kanda Stage
as a place to hold regular exercise of the Art Centre like healthy
recreation and art activities.
Other than that, at northeast corner also resides an open stage
named Ayodya Stage. This stage having the extent of 300 square
meters is also intended to hold the presentation of traditional
art like Kecak Dance. There is also wantilan hall functioning as venue
of performing, like Kecak Dance and regular activities of the
Art Center on the Bali Art Festival. It has the capacity of 600
persons and equipped with toilet and make-up room.
If you make a visit to Art Center, the closes building to parking
lot is meeting hall, cafeteria and outlet of communication service
on the lower floor. From here, you can resume your promenade to
the next location, through west pavement of Ksirarnawa Building
by crossing the bridge. On this courtyard lies a Kumbakarna Sculpture
conveying the faithfulness of Kumbakarna to his country (on Mahabrata
epic).I Wayan Nyungkal from Tegalalang made that sculpture of
5 m height of timber in 1975.
North of wantilan hall lays a Sculpture Studio or Sculpture
Workshop with the extent of 120 square meters. This building consists
of two floors. Lower floor is used for sculpting demonstration
and competition activities while the upper floor for retaining
the works of demonstration and competition. In the midst of Bali
Art festival execution, this building is taken advantage for exhibition
of Balinese building Marquette.
Next to resides of Bale Panjang or Long Pavilion as a place
to demonstrate painting activities. East of this building is Krya
Sembrani Occaihcrawa as a place to hold occasional showcase like
painting exhibition.
Then, east of it is the main exhibition hall named Mahudara
Mandiri Giri Bhuvana. This building retains myriad collection
of work art by artists who have an outstanding achievement and
won local and central government awards. Upper floor of Room I
in this building constitutes a place to reserve the painting collection
belonging to classical and traditional style like that of Kamasan,
Batuan, Ubud and Young Artist. Special collection of woodcarving
and sculpting as well as antiquated statue that reaches hundreds
of years is securely kept in the Room II.
Meanwhile, on the lower floor of Room III is retained several
collection of handicrafts made of iron, silver, gold, woven clothes,
tusk, egg and so forth. In the Room IV can be found sculpture
and plaited handicraft exhibition, Room V painting exhibition
of artist from several regions through out Bali.
At the easternmost tip of this building occurs floating pavilion
as relaxing place. It is also beautifully completed with pond
overgrown by colorful water lily and Gili Pavilion. Again, east
of this complex you still can find kiddie’s playground that
make the ambience of this Art Centre more bustling and lively.
Sacred or tranquil zone hold Widya Kusuma Library. It is located
at upper floor collecting several selections of books on art and
Indonesian culture, while on the lower floor is used for reading
room intended for library visitors. On the performing of Bali
Art Festival, it is used for make-up room. Amerta Saraswati Discussion Pavilion
is also located there were literary discussion and dharma wacana
(Hindu sermon) held. In the south, right on the riverside and
next to shady trees laid serenely the Taman Beji Temple as worshipping
place for the office staff and the surrounding community.