Don Antonio Blanco Museum

Don Antonio Blanco Museum is a place where you can savor Balinese life in motion, with a visit to the family temple or stroll trough the gardens. Everywhere there are touches of Antoniov Blanco's life. The artist's studio remains undisturbed, the unfinished painting still on the sunken easel. Women wonder trough the yard, in traditional Balinese dress carrying offerings. The visitor can see the delicate flower and palm leaf offerings being made in the courtyard. The Blanco family provides a personal tour of the museum and grounds. Antonio Blanco was born on september 15, 1911 in manila the capital of the philippines.

Both of his parents was spanish, a fact that Blanco believed linked him geographically and spiritually to Miro and Salvador Dali. His father settled in manila during the Spanish - America  war, where he attained prominence as a physician. Balnco was educated at the American Central School in Manila. During his high school years he loved the arts, literature and language classes but struggled scientific subject. It is no wonder tha he spoke six languages. -Spanish, french, english, tagalog, indonesi, and a bit of Balinese. After completing high school in manila, Balnco studied at the national academy of art in New York under the Sidney Dickinson. During those early formative years, Blanco concentrated on the human form, fascinated by the female body more then other subject matter.

To further his studies and ignite his traveling spirits, he traveled extensively throughout the world before he finally landed in Bali on 1952. The Kings of Ubud gave Blanco a pieceof lands to set up his home and studio in campuhan, Ubud, of the confluence of two sacred rivers. Blanco and his Balinese wife. The celebrated dancer Ni Ronji, leaved in their mountain retreat, barely leaving it for the world outside. Following a brief trip to the United States. Where Blanco acquired many new collectors, the couple never left their fantasy home again. Living in serene surrounding with his four children, Tjempaka, Mario, Orchid and Maha devi, Bali become Blanco's center. He was fascinated by the island and completely captivated by its charm.

Blanco lived and worked in his magical hilltop home until his death in 1999, feverishly creating his fantasy portraits of beautiful women. surrounded by lush gardens, rice fields and with a banyan tree standing over his family's temple, Antonio Blanco proceeded to create a new reality for himself. His artistic outpourings of this isolated world become much sough after by eager art lovers, collectors and promoters. Within a few years, Balnco become the most famous foreign artist to make Bali his home.
He was recognized in both Indonesian and Abroad, receiving numerous awards and commanding huge prizes at international auctions. By the end of his life, Blanco had begun building his museum at his studio in Campuhan.

Dramatically his died just before its inauguration. His funeral was marked by a very important cremation in Ubud. It was Blanco's dream to turn studio-mansion into a museum. His son Mario, full filled this dream by following his path to become a painter. The Blanco renaissance museum is now open to the public. exposing both the Maestro's and Mario's art works.

Balinese Religion

Balinese Religion are hindu yet their religion is very different that of the indian variety. They do have the caste system, but there no untouchable and occupation is not governed by caste. In fact, the only things that reflects the caste system is the language which has three tiers : 95% of all the balinese are Hindu Dharma, and speak low or everyday balinese with each other. middle Balinese is used for talking to the strangers, at a formal occasions or to people of the higher ksatriya caste, high Balinese words are used when talking to the highest class, to the Brahmana or to the Padanda (Priest)

It may sounds complicated, but most of the words at he low and medium levels are same, where as a high Balinese is a mixture to the middle and Kawi, the ancient javanese language. The Balinese worship the Hindu trinity, Brahma, Visnu, and Shiva, who are seen as manifestation supreme God Sang Hyang Widhi. Other indian gods like Ganesha (The elephant headed god) also often appear, but more commonly, one will see shrines to the many gods and spirits, and much of their religion in base upon this.

They believe that good spirits Dwell in the mountains and the seas are home of Demons and Ogres. most villages is have at least three main temples : one, The Pura Puseh or 'Temple of Origin" face the mountains and is dedicated to the village founders. Two, The Pura Desa or"Village Temple" is normally found in the center and is dedicated to the welfare of the village. Three, The Pura Dalem is aligned with the sea and is dedicated to the spirits of the dead. Aside from these villages temple, almost every house has its own shrines and you can also find monument dedicated to the spirits of agriculture, art and all other aspects of life.

Some temple, Pura Besakih for example, on the slopes of mount Agung, are considered especially important and people from all over Bali, travel to worship in there. Offerings play are significant role in Balinese Life as they appease the spirits and this brings prosperity and good healthy to the family. Everyday small offerings trays ( Canang Sari) containing symbolic food like flowers, cigarettes and money are placed on shrine in temple, outside of house and shops and even dangerous of crossroads. Festival are another great occasion for appeasing the gods.

The woman bear huge, beautifully arranged pyramid of food, fruits and flowers on their head while the man might conduct a blood sacrifice through a cook fights. there are traditional dance and music
and the gods are invited to come down and join to the festivities. The festivals are usually very exciting occasion and well worth observing, if you are in the area. A crucial things to remember, if you wish to join in celebrations or enter the temple, is there a number of rules that have to be respected.

Bali Tour Office