Le Mayeur Museum Denpasar and His Artistic Journey in Bali – Born in Brussels on February 9, 1880, Adrien Jean Le Mayeur was originally an engineer. However, he took a fascinating turn in his career when he delved into the world of painting. His artistic journey led him from Europe to the enchanting island of Bali for the first time in 1932, arriving by sea and docking in Singaraja.
From Singaraja, Le Mayeur continued his journey to Denpasar, where he rented a house on a street near the Pura Prajurit, Banjar Kelandis. It was here that he had his first encounter with a renowned Legong Keraton dancer named Ni Nyoman Polok.
Ni Polok came from a humble farming family. Her introduction to Le Mayeur marked a turning point in his life. Her beauty and grace in dancing captivated the painter’s heart. Le Mayeur sought permission from the sekaa (dance group) leaders, ensuring that Ni Polok’s primary role as a dancer in Banjar Kelandis would not be disrupted. He made the most of his eight-month stay in Bali, creating numerous paintings inspired by Ni Polok.
The results of his work were truly astounding and even made their way to exhibitions in Singapore. Three years after the first exhibition, Le Mayeur returned for a second display in the same country.
As Le Mayeur’s bond with Ni Polok grew stronger, they decided to marry in 1935. What initially planned as an eight-month stay in Bali extended to 26 years.
Every day, Le Mayeur diligently created art. In 1937, with his wife by his side, he exhibited his works once more in Singapore. Having achieved success three times in Singapore, he participated in an exhibition in Kuala Lumpur. Some of the proceeds from these exhibitions were gifted to the governments of Belgium, France, and England, who embroiled in World War II at the time.
Le Mayeur used a portion of his hard-earned funds to purchase a 32-acre plot of land on Sanur Beach. Over time, the husband and wife gradually built their dream home.
Le Mayeur’s popularity continued to rise, with admirers including high-ranking officials like President Soekarno, Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru of India, and the Indonesian Minister of Education, Bahder Djohan.
In the Museum Le Mayeur guidebook written by I Nengah Sudana and I Ketut Mantara Gandi, it mentioned that Bahder Djohan conceived the idea of establishing a museum to preserve Le Mayeur’s artworks. As fate would have it, on August 28, 1957, the Museum Le Mayeur founded and remains known as a hub for the development of art in Bali.
Le Mayeur Museum Denpasar
The museum comprises seven buildings lined up from north to south, including a ticket booth, a peaceful bale bengong, a bale pecanangan, the main building, a kitchen, a laboratory building, and an art shop.
The entrance fee for the Museum Le Mayeur is Rp 10,000 for adults and Rp 5,000 for children. Located on Jalan Jang Tuah, Sanur Kaja, the museum opens daily, except on holidays, from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM local time.
Before coming to Bali, Le Mayeur had painted in various countries. This allows museum visitors to view his works created abroad.
His international paintings often revolve around nature, while his Balinese paintings not only showcase the environment but also prominently feature female models. This was a result of Ni Polok’s profound influence on Le Mayeur’s artistic expression.”
