Le Mayeur Museum a fitting homage to Belgian-born master<\/p>\n
By Alpha Savitri<\/p>\n
SANUR, Bali (JP): The famous Le Mayeur Museum, located in the
\nSanur Beach resort area of Bali, every day displays to the public
\npaintings by world-famous painter Jean Le Mayeur de Merpres, as
\nwell as personal effects that he left behind.<\/p>\n
Born into French nobility in Bruxelles on Feb.9, 1880, Le
\nMayeur was, in his time, one of the world's famous painters who
\neloquently reflected the exoticism of Bali island, also known as
\nParadise on Earth, and its pretty girls on canvas.<\/p>\n
Le Mayeur skillfully and artistically recorded chatting or
\ndancing Balinese girls, generally bare-chested, without giving
\nthe impression of vulgarity.<\/p>\n
In five exhibition halls the museum displays 88 paintings by
\nLe Mayeur, 22 of which are on gunny sacks while the rest are on
\ncanvas, cardboard, plywood and paper.<\/p>\n
Le Mayeur used gunny sacks for his paintings when Indonesia
\nwas occupied by Japan and canvas was too difficult to find. He
\nseemed to be able to make do with whatever came his way. It was
\non gunny sacks that, during these difficult times, he poured
\nforth his fiery passion for painting.<\/p>\n
As a romantic person, Le Mayeur fell deeply in love with Bali,
\nalso dubbed the Isle of Deities. He first got acquainted with
\nthis island through the films he saw while still in Europe. In
\n1932 he disembarked at Bali's port of Singaraja in North Bali.
\nFrom Singaraja he went straight to Denpasar, where he rented a
\nhouse at Banjar Kelandis.<\/p>\n
Actually, he planned to stay in Bali for only eight months.
\nHis infatuation with the natural beauty of Bali and, especially,
\nwith Ni Pollok, a beautiful local dancer who became his model,
\nhowever, made him decide to settle on this island.<\/p>\n
So in 1935, Le Mayeur, who had seen many a beautiful place the
\nworld over, married Ni Pollok. After the marriage, she purchased
\na plot of land measuring 3,200 square meters somewhere in the
\nSanur Beach area. It was here that he wanted to build his house.
\nLe Mayeur, also a technical school graduate, designed the house
\nby himself and opted for the traditional Balinese architectural
\nstyle.<\/p>\n
In constructing the house, Le Mayeur was assisted by the
\nfamous sculptor, Ida Bagus Made Mas. Progress was made little by
\nlittle and it was not until 20 years had elapsed since he
\npurchased the land was construction of the house completed. The
\nbuilding, dominated by teak wood, is resplendent with highly
\ngraceful and beautiful Balinese engravings.<\/p>\n
The hard teak wood in the entire house - windows, doors,
\ncupboards, tables or chairs - has all been engraved, which is a
\nvery difficult job indeed. It took six months, for example, to
\nengrave the octagonal table and eight very simple chairs.<\/p>\n
Yet, Le Mayeur, who had a host of dreams for the house that he
\nwould occupy with his beloved Ni Pollok, was not in the least
\ndeterred by difficulty. It was he himself who arranged the
\npositioning of the statues within and without the house. It was
\nalso he who arranged the trees, the flowers and the entirely
\ntraditional Balinese interior.<\/p>\n
The house also has a small pond covered with lotuses, flowers
\nsacred to Hindu believers.<\/p>\n
Thanks to this house, Le Mayeur became very close with the
\ncommunity in Sanur. Locals used to call him \"Mr Mayor\", \"mayor\"
\nbeing the local pronunciation of the French sound \"mayeur\", or
\n\"Mr Belgi\" with \"Belgi\" being the local reference to Belgium.
\nEven today many of the locals call Le Mayeur Museum as the Museum
\nof \"Mr Belgi\".<\/p>\n
In 1967, Bahder Djohan, then minister of education, teaching
\nand culture, visited Le Mayeur's house. He not only admired the
\npaintings but expressed deep concern about how the paintings
\nwould fare in future, especially considering that Le Mayeur and
\nNi Pollok were childless.<\/p>\n
The minister suggested that the house be turned into a museum
\ndisplaying Le Mayeur's paintings. Le Mayeur agreed and was even
\nresolved to work harder to ensure that the house would really
\nqualify as an art museum.<\/p>\n
This artist died of an illness in May 1958. Ni Pollok died on
\nJuly 21, 1985. Today, their house and its contents - paintings,
\nequipment and furniture -- are under the local administration's
\nmanagement. It is open every day except Saturday.<\/p>\n
When you visit this museum, you will not only savor Le
\nMayeur's excellent paintings, but also the engraved house, its
\ninterior decoration, its furniture (tables, cupboards, chairs)
\nand a Le Mayeur - Ni Pollok gamelan set.<\/p>\n
Then you may find it interesting to look at a delightfully-
\nshaped pond which Le Mayeur built next to the museum building.
\nThe pond sees peaceful proliferation of fish and lotuses, and is
\nhome to a bust of Le Mayeur made by I Made Panti.<\/p>\n
Ni Pollok had this bust made after the death of her husband.
\nShe loved her him deeply and would gaze at the bust when she was
\noverwhelmed by longing for her dead husband. She would give
\nofferings -- flowers and food -- to the bust twice a day.<\/p>\n
On the lower part of the bust Pollok inscribed: In Loving
\nMemory of AJ Le Mayeur De Merpres. Born on February 9, 1880, in
\nBruxelles (Belgium). Arrived in Bali 1932. Died in peace n March
\n31, 1958, in Bruxelles (Belgium).<\/p>\n
It is really a shame that his paintings, as the most precious
\nlegacy of Le Mayeur, are mostly in a miserable condition. The
\ncolors in many of the paintings have faded. The coastal air of
\nSanur, unfortunately, seems unfavorable to Le Mayeur's most
\nimportant legacy.<\/p>",
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