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. 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 DiscussionPavilion 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.
