Culture Minister orders conservation review at Bali’s Le Mayeur Museum

Denpasar — — Indonesia’s Minister of Culture Fadli Zon has highlighted the need for stronger conservation measures for the collection at Museum Le Mayeur in Sanur, Denpasar, during a visit to the seaside museum on 30 August 2026, according to the ministry and public broadcaster RRI.

In a report dated 30 August 2026, Radio Harbos stated that Fadli inspected original works by Belgian painter Adrien Jean Le Mayeur de Merprès and noted changes in the colors of several paintings, particularly those made on sack-like materials used when canvas was difficult to obtain during the World War II era, according to his remarks during the visit.

RRI’s national service reported that the minister regarded fading colors as a key conservation challenge and said a number of Le Mayeur’s paintings require further treatment to preserve their original character and colors. The broadcaster, citing a release from the Ministry of Culture, said the ministry plans to send a team from the National Gallery to examine the collection and assess its conservation needs.

According to Radio Harbos, Fadli stressed that conservation efforts should maintain the authenticity of the works, including their characteristic colors and visual qualities, and indicated that the National Gallery team would carry out a more detailed review of the collection.

The museum’s coastal location on the Sanur shore adds environmental pressures on the artworks, with humidity and the marine climate identified as factors affecting the preservation of the paintings, according to the Radio Harbos account of the visit. The reports did not provide details on the timetable or budget for the planned assessment.

Museum collection and visitor profile

Museum Le Mayeur is housed in the former residence of Le Mayeur and his Balinese wife, Legong dancer Ni Nyoman Pollok, on Jalan Hang Tuah in Sanur Kaja, Denpasar Selatan. The museum preserves paintings and household objects linked to the artist’s life and work in Bali.

The collection includes 88 artworks by Le Mayeur, according to the Bali Province museum authorities and cultural heritage organisations. Indonesiakaya.com notes that the museum keeps 88 paintings on media including canvas, hardboard, plywood, paper and bagor (sack cloth). A Bali museum official cited by Republika also states that Le Mayeur’s works at the museum currently total 88 pieces.

The museum operates as a public attraction and educational site for tourists and artists, under the management of the Bali Provincial Culture Office. The Denpasar city government describes it as a destination where visitors can learn about the painter’s oeuvre and Balinese cultural expression.

Radio Harbos reported that average monthly attendance at Museum Le Mayeur is relatively low and dominated by foreign visitors, especially from Europe, and cited this as a concern raised by Fadli during his visit. The minister called for stronger promotion of Le Mayeur’s life and works so that more people can learn about and appreciate the collection, according to the same report.

Heritage, environment and access

Le Mayeur arrived in Bali in the early 1930s after travelling through several countries, eventually settling on the Sanur coast with Ni Nyoman Pollok, who became both his wife and a principal model in many of his paintings, according to cultural heritage profiles. Their home, facing the sea, later became Museum Le Mayeur and now serves to conserve the artistic and domestic legacy of the couple.

The museum’s seaside setting and the use of varied materials, including sack cloth, in some paintings place conservation at the centre of its management challenges, as underlined by Fadli’s remarks on the fading colors and the planned National Gallery assessment. Authorities also promote the museum as part of Bali’s wider cultural tourism offering, with regular opening hours and low-priced tickets for domestic visitors described in official profiles and local tourism information.

During the August visit, Fadli was accompanied by ministry officials and local cultural bodies, according to Radio Harbos, underscoring cooperation between the national ministry and the Bali provincial government on safeguarding and promoting cultural heritage sites such as Museum Le Mayeur.

Sources

• Radio Harbos
• RRI (Voice of Indonesia, Art & Culture)
• Indonesiakaya.com
• Republika
• Denpasar City Government