Le Mayeur Museum, Heritage of Mr. België

Balitraveldiary.com – The island of Bali keeps a hidden exoticism in every inch of land and the hustle and bustle of people’s lives. This is what attracted the attention of millions of people from various parts of the world to come and carve memories of the Island of the Gods in their life stories.

One of these people was Andrien Jean Le Mayeur de Merpes. This Belgian royal painter is one of the many European painters who are entangled in Balinese charm and even become an inseparable part in the history of the development of Balinese painting.

Le Mayeur, who was born on February 9, 1880 in Brussels, inherited the talent of his father, who was also a painter. Although opposed by his father, Le Mayeur learned to develop his painting skills to a number of teachers, including Ernest Blanc Garin (1813-1916).

Between 1919-1932, he traveled to hone his ability as a painter to various countries, including France, Italy, Morocco, Tunisia, India, Thailand, Cambodia, and Tahiti.

After exploring many countries, Le Mayeur was finally anchored in Bali. He also decided to explore the power of creativity in working on this island until the end of his life.

In Bali, Le Mayeur found an interest in elevating the natural beauty, culture, and local people into his paintings. The object of Le Mayeur’s paintings raised many activities of traditional Balinese society at that time, especially women.

Of the 47 Balinese-themed paintings left in this museum, most of them are subjected to Balinese women in various activities, such as dancing, playing, joking, weaving, and bringing offerings (canang). The main model that became the source of inspiration for Le Mayeur was none other than his own beloved wife, namely Ni Pollok.

Ni Nyoman Pollok is a palace legong dancer from Banjar Kelandis, Denpasar. When Le Mayeur met him for the first time, Ni Pollok was still 15 years old.

Le Mayeur was married to Ni Pollok in 1935 in a Hindu traditional ceremony and continued harmoniously until Le Mayeur died in 1958. After her husband died, Ni Pollok contributed greatly to the development of the museum whose status was granted to the government of the Republic of Indonesia on August 28, 1957. Ni Pollok died in 1985.

Officially, the date of house donation along with all Le Mayeur’s works to the Indonesian government was enshrined as the date of the establishment of the Le Mayeur Museum. Le Mayeur Museum summarizes the work of a man who is familiarly called Mr. This Belgien until the end of his life. In total, the museum stores 88 paintings with various themes, which are poured on canvas, hardboard, plywood, paper, and bagor.

In addition to paintings, this museum also holds a number of other collections. The collection is in the form of photos of Le Mayeur’s personal documentation, a variety of original furniture belonging to the Le Mayeur family, wooden carving ornaments that blend with the house, as well as a number of sculptures – including a half-body statue of Le Mayeur and Ni Pollok, which is now directly facing the entrance this museum.

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