SAKA Museum in Bali opens its first exhibition on the Kamasan painting tradition: more than 30 classic and contemporary works

The SAKA Museum at AYANA Bali opened today, September 26, 2026, its first temporary exhibition, «KAMASAN: The Noble Tradition of Balinese Painting», dedicated to the centuries-old Kamasan painting tradition and its evolution in the hands of contemporary Balinese artists, as Pocket News reports. With this show, the museum puts at the center of attention one of the oldest and most noble forms of Balinese art, which for centuries has served as the visual language of the island’s history, mythology and spirituality.

The exhibition brings together more than 30 works, including ritual cloths, works on palm leaf, historic paintings and new creations by today’s artists. The Kamasan painting tradition originates in the village of Kamasan, in Klungkung Regency, where it developed under the protection of Bali’s royal courts and is closely tied to Hindu traditions, giving visual form to epics and religious rites.

Notably, the exhibition puts women and young artists at the center, reinterpreting the traditional visual language through contemporary themes such as identity, ecology and technology. Through this dialogue between past and present, the centuries-old Kamasan tradition is presented not as a frozen relic, but as a living art that continues to inspire new generations.

«KAMASAN: The Noble Tradition of Balinese Painting» remains open to the public until May 30, 2027, offering visitors a unique journey from Bali’s royal courts to the vision of today’s artists.