Bali, ABIM (20/6/2023) – Minister of Public Works and Housing (PUPR) Basuki Hadimuljono accompanied by Balinese artist I Ketut Pradnya, and Rector of the Indonesian Art Institute (ISI) Denpasar I Wayan Adnyana inaugurated the Wiswakarma Museum as a center for creative culture in Gianyar, Bali, Sunday (06/18).
I’m grateful for the chance to officially open the Wiswakarma Museum, which represents a genuine attempt to conserve Balinese architecture and culture. It turns out that Mr. Ketut Pradnya and his extended family also collect rare plants, so for that, I congratulate them on the creation of this magnificent museum, Minister Basuki said in his inaugural speech.
In accordance with President Jokowi’s instructions, Minister Basuki stated that infrastructure development in Indonesia must consider aesthetic qualities as well as environmental sustainability now and in the future.
Minister Basuki also reminded the people of the PUPR that they must always be strong, brave, and creative. “I always convey to the entire PUPR Ministry’s extended family that PUPR people must be strong because they are professionals in their field, brave because they have integrity, and artistic because they have the ability to improvise and innovate as artists in Bali do,” Minister Basuki said.
Balinese artist and founder of the Wiswakarma Museum, I Ketut Pradnya, said that in the era of urban cultural disruption and modernization, Bali is expected to maintain its cultural identity without closing itself off from digital developments.
“The Wiswakarma Museum is designed as a center for education and creative culture so that Balinese culture is not only documented by its successors, but also preserved and distributed more widely,” I Ketut Pradnya explained.
The Balinese believe that Wiswakarma is both the teacher of unagi (traditional Balinese architects) and the architect god who created the universe. The unagi continue to adhere to and use as guidance all the standards outlined in Balinese architectural manuals. The Wiswakarma Museum was therefore created as a tribute to the artistic creations for Bali and, of course, Indonesia.
“With this museum, we dedicate all creative work to become dharma for the homeland and ancestors of Bali, and hopefully it will have meaning for Bali and Indonesia,” I Ketut Pradnya remarked.
Finally, Minister Basuki appreciated the establishment of the Wiswakarma Museum to preserve and care for creative culture in Bali and will invite World Water Forum (WWF) delegates to be able to visit the museum during the 2nd Stakeholders Consultation Meeting in October 2023 in Bali.
“Congratulations on the inauguration of the Wiswakarma Museum, I am proud and hope this can be a model for the sustainability of our nation’s architecture and culture in the future,” said Minister Basuki.
Also present accompanying Minister Basuki, Expert Staff to the Minister of PUPR for Technology, Industry and Environment Endra S. Atmawidjaja, Head of BPPW Bali Andreas Budi Wirawan, and Main Director of PT Brantas Abipraya Sugeng Rochadi.(ABIM)
