Permanent exhibit honors Djelantik

I Wayan Juniartha, The Jakarta Post, Ubud

Ubud's Agung Rai Museum of Arts (ARMA) unveiled Wednesday evening a special room and permanent exhibition dedicated to the late AA Made Djelantik, a Balinese prince whose tireless works in both the medical and arts fields made him one of the island's most influential and beloved figures.

Named simply the "Dr. AA Made Djelantik Room", it hosts a permanent exhibition of Djelantik's watercolor paintings and several personal belongings, including the Sekar Gading, an heirloom kris, and his violin.

Noted collector Sutedja Neka, who praised Djelantik as "a great man of our time", officially opened the room in a modest ceremony attended by several important individuals, including Horst Jordt of the German Walter Spies Society, Nyoman Gunarsa and Djelantik's daughters, Bulantrisna and Surya.

The owner of ARMA, Agung Rai, said the room and permanent exhibition was the result of a collaborative effort between ARMA, the German Walter Spies Society and Djelantik's family.

"It is our homage to the man, who had made such a huge and selfless contribution to the development of arts on this island. We are forever indebted to the late Dr. AA Made Djelantik," he said.

The room lies next to the ARMA's Walter Spies room. Djelantik was the founder of the Walter Spies Foundation Bali and was the honorary president of the German Walter Spies Society.

In his touching speech, Horst Jordt described Djelantik as "one of the most unusual personalities in Bali".

"Highly educated and cosmopolitan, incredibly curious and well-versed in several languages ... he was deeply rooted to his culture and incorruptible in his principles," he said.

Born into the royal family of Karangasem, Djelantik was educated at the University of Amsterdam. In the late 1940s, the young doctor was posted at some of Indonesia's remotest regions.

He later played a pivotal role in the establishment of the medical faculty at Udayana University as well as the Sanglah Central Hospital.

From 1968 to 1980, the World Health Organization employed him to battle malaria in its projects in Somalia, Nepal, Iraq and Afghanistan.

In his later years, his passion for art made him one of the most respected figures among Balinese artists. He co-founded the Indonesian Dance Academy in Denpasar and his books -- Balinese Paintings (1996) and Estetika (1998) -- are still considered among the most lucid depictions of Bali's traditional fine and performing arts.

He passed away on Sept. 5, 2007, at the age of 88.

"The family is deeply touched by this homage. We truly appreciate this genuine, sincere expression of affection toward our beloved father," Bulantrisna said of the exhibit.