All are aligned with our book, “Timeless Harmony,” as the spirit of Saka Museum is to preserve timeless pieces of Bali. Our book records the spirit of timelessness through philosophy, design, and photographs by Rusdi Sanad. Inside this book, the reader is informed of how the natural beauty of Bali is the result of the unique perspective of Balinese called Desa Kala Patra. It is a teaching to give respect to place, time, and situation to acquire balance in harmony and spirituality.
The opening year of two thousand twenty-four is marked by the inauguration of a landmark in Ayana Jimbaran. Saka Museum — the name resembling the caka calendar of Bali — is dedicated to preserving a collection of timeless fragments ranging from ancient to contemporary Bali. This art sanctuary is placed inside the luxurious Ayana Jimbaran property and stands unique with its intriguing forms.
From a distance, the museum looks like a compass needle, with its sharp edges and fast slopes. It stands above a giant reflecting pond, showcasing an outstanding engineering marvel. The design is delivered by Mitsubishi Sekkei Ltd from Japan, and its style is very apparent with its combination of a strong engineering statement. Despite access still being exclusive to Ayana guests, we had the opportunity to enter the Saka Museum as part of the arrangement to present our culture book, “Timeless Harmony,” to be included in a portion of the collection. The honor is ours, along with Rusdi Sanad, to place our work in this timeless sanctuary.
Upon our arrival, we experienced firsthand the neatness of Japanese design when creating a public space. All materials are considered very easy to maintain, and the neutral colors create an unassuming ambiance for whoever walks inside. Once inside, the modern museum is a splendid sight. With everything being minimalistic, it draws our attention more to the collection. The ground floor is filled with collections of ancient sculptures from Bali, paintings, and poetry. One area is dedicated to Nyepi and Kamasan painting. If we move further inside, there will be a series of documentation of the design process and construction of the Saka Museum took a total of 4 years to complete.
We are guided into the library where Saka Museum stores rare and ancient literature of Bali. It ranges from lontar leaves to the first copies of famous books, all stored very elegantly in fully customized displays and reading tables. The interior provides a feeling of calmness and is very modest in terms of color. What catches our attention is a collection of Pawukon calendars.
Bali has its own time, guided by a calendar named Pawukon. It is a wooden board that indicates the passing of days and marks fortunate or unfortunate dates. It follows the Saka calendar, consisting of eight traditional weeks or “wuku.” Using this calendar, the people of Bali decide the best time to start planting rice fields, build a temple, or commence any ceremony. This calendar is beautifully carved and used over time; therefore, its utility is timeless in the realm of Balinese culture.
All are aligned with our book, “Timeless Harmony,” as the spirit of Saka Museum is to preserve timeless pieces of Bali. Our book records the spirit of timelessness through philosophy, design, and photographs by Rusdi Sanad. Inside this book, the reader is informed of how the natural beauty of Bali is the result of the unique perspective of Balinese called Desa Kala Patra. It is a teaching to give respect to place, time, and situation to acquire balance in harmony and spirituality.
Upon arriving in the main library where the Saka Museum stored relics and rare collections of literature, Chandra, our principal of design, and I introduced the book to the Saka Museum’s curator. Rusdi Sanad gives a short and beautiful explanation of why we are collaborating to write this book, where readers could immerse themselves in the visual spectacle through Sanad’s lens. Hopefully, what we have done in this book could provoke others to take part in cultural preservation — as is the vision of Saka Museum. This kind of spirit is what keeps us doing what we believe.
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