Fine Arts & Ceramics Museum (Balai Seni Rupa)
Fine Arts & Ceramics Museum (Balai Seni Rupa)
3.5
8:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Tuesday
8:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Wednesday
8:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Thursday
8:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Friday
8:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Saturday
8:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Sunday
8:00 AM - 3:00 PM
About
This gallery displays paintings, sculptures and ceramics from Indonesia's greatest artists.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
3.5
83 reviews
Excellent
5
Very good
40
Average
25
Poor
11
Terrible
2
cirque
Jakarta, Indonesia8,132 contributions
The museum itself is a piece of art. Situated in the former house of justice from the colonial era, the building features high ceiling, airy corridors with open lawn in the middle of square-shaped building. Not much I can comment on the collection. Housed in 2 different rooms, mostly contains paintings, few ceramic pots, and some wooden sculptures decorate the corridors. The rooms which show the paintings has not much lighting gives an eerie feeling if you are walking by yourself. Cannot see any guide that can speak English.
In the middle of the building that connects the 2 display rooms, there is a small ceramic workshop called 'Studio Keramik'. There museum guest can register for ceramic-making workshop. For Rp15,000, guest will be given a portion of clay and he has to shape the clay into anything he want. Many examples are available or the guest can make the model based on his creativity. The workshop staff can speak English though. Besides ceramic workshop, the workshop also sell some ceramic that is on display.
The museum closed at 3pm, so it is suggested to come early in the morning if you want to join ceramic making workshop to allow the clay to dry before you take it home.
The entrance fee to the museum itself is Rp2000 for public. The ceramic making workshop fee is payable at the studio.
In the middle of the building that connects the 2 display rooms, there is a small ceramic workshop called 'Studio Keramik'. There museum guest can register for ceramic-making workshop. For Rp15,000, guest will be given a portion of clay and he has to shape the clay into anything he want. Many examples are available or the guest can make the model based on his creativity. The workshop staff can speak English though. Besides ceramic workshop, the workshop also sell some ceramic that is on display.
The museum closed at 3pm, so it is suggested to come early in the morning if you want to join ceramic making workshop to allow the clay to dry before you take it home.
The entrance fee to the museum itself is Rp2000 for public. The ceramic making workshop fee is payable at the studio.
Written 22 January 2008
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Raymond W
Townsville, Australia4,534 contributions
This museum is located in a beautiful nineteenth-century building on Taman Fatahillah, the city square of old Batavia. It has some antique-looking canons sitting out on the front lawns and solid white columns on its deep front porch. The airy building is built around a garden courtyard which is a pleasant respite from the madness of central Jakarta. However, the architecture is not the only reason to come here. This museum houses an interesting collection of Indonesian art through the ages.
Lovers of ceramics and pottery will find this museum particularly rewarding. Indonesia's long trade contacts with China have ensured that huge amounts of antique porcelain are to be found in Indonesia. This museum houses an impressive collection of Ming blue and white wares, as well as white and green porcelain from the Sung Dynasty. Ancient ceramics from Vietnam and Thailand are also represented.
But for me, the highlight of the ceramics selection is a wonderful range of terracotta figurines from Java's great Majapahit dynasty. These small, unpretentious figurines offer a realistic depiction of people from fourteenth century Java. It is interesting to see how some of the hairstyles and traditional clothing of ancient Java can be still found in village Bali today. There are also larger pieces in the shapes of urns and water tanks.
The museum also houses a good collection of Indonesian art. The most famous work is a portrait from Affandi, Indonesia's best-known modern artist. But religious art from Bali, colonial-era art and nationalist works from the era of the Independence Struggle are also very much in evidence. The contemporary art section depicts common Indonesian themes such as the conflict between tradition and modernity and the sharp contrast between the lifestyle of the Indonesian elite and the poverty of the city's slums. The galleries had no other visitors at the time of both of my two visits but this is a shame. This fine collection deserves your attention.
Lovers of ceramics and pottery will find this museum particularly rewarding. Indonesia's long trade contacts with China have ensured that huge amounts of antique porcelain are to be found in Indonesia. This museum houses an impressive collection of Ming blue and white wares, as well as white and green porcelain from the Sung Dynasty. Ancient ceramics from Vietnam and Thailand are also represented.
But for me, the highlight of the ceramics selection is a wonderful range of terracotta figurines from Java's great Majapahit dynasty. These small, unpretentious figurines offer a realistic depiction of people from fourteenth century Java. It is interesting to see how some of the hairstyles and traditional clothing of ancient Java can be still found in village Bali today. There are also larger pieces in the shapes of urns and water tanks.
The museum also houses a good collection of Indonesian art. The most famous work is a portrait from Affandi, Indonesia's best-known modern artist. But religious art from Bali, colonial-era art and nationalist works from the era of the Independence Struggle are also very much in evidence. The contemporary art section depicts common Indonesian themes such as the conflict between tradition and modernity and the sharp contrast between the lifestyle of the Indonesian elite and the poverty of the city's slums. The galleries had no other visitors at the time of both of my two visits but this is a shame. This fine collection deserves your attention.
Written 21 September 2008
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hormuz
Mumbai, India67 contributions
Jul 2012 • Solo
The Jakarta Museum of Fine Arts and Ceramics
Located at Fatahillah Square, Jakarta, it is housed in an exquisite little building of classical architecture, with Doric columns, set up in 1820. It had once housed the Dutch East Indies’ Council of Justice. It was converted in to a museum in 1976. Apart from beautiful antique ceramicware from China, Japan and other countries, it has paintings by some of the best Indonesian contemporary painters in the Western tradition. The museum also has some ancient stone carvings, intricate wood-work of classical beauty, and other artwork. The museum is in a lovely, large, well-maintained garden. A small museum, but worth a visit.
Admission Rp. 2,000 ((US $ one = Rp. 9,400)
Located at Fatahillah Square, Jakarta, it is housed in an exquisite little building of classical architecture, with Doric columns, set up in 1820. It had once housed the Dutch East Indies’ Council of Justice. It was converted in to a museum in 1976. Apart from beautiful antique ceramicware from China, Japan and other countries, it has paintings by some of the best Indonesian contemporary painters in the Western tradition. The museum also has some ancient stone carvings, intricate wood-work of classical beauty, and other artwork. The museum is in a lovely, large, well-maintained garden. A small museum, but worth a visit.
Admission Rp. 2,000 ((US $ one = Rp. 9,400)
Written 7 August 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Clarissa R
Nikiski, AK211 contributions
Feb 2018 • Friends
Indonesia deserves better than this.
The displays were poorly designed, poorly labeled (if at all!) and often dirty or in bad shape.
There is some cool stuff in there and it's super cheap, so sure, I'd recommend you take a look, but don't have high expectations to learn much about what you're seeing.
The displays were poorly designed, poorly labeled (if at all!) and often dirty or in bad shape.
There is some cool stuff in there and it's super cheap, so sure, I'd recommend you take a look, but don't have high expectations to learn much about what you're seeing.
Written 21 July 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Toga Kings
Saratoga Springs, NY198 contributions
Jan 2013 • Business
Not really much art, but the building is quiet and cool. The vertical gardens are interesting. And it has a toilet.
Written 13 February 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Erica W
Bogor, Jawa Barat, Indonesia144 contributions
The collections were not taken care of. No security details, no further information on the arts, some collections looked like junks.
Written 5 March 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jarko2015
Amsterdam, The Netherlands1,731 contributions
Feb 2018 • Solo
It's only IR5000 (about $US0.35) to visit this museum on the main square of the old town and the price does really reflect the poor quality of what's on show. The building is more interesting than the exhibits for sure, but there are some very beautiful ceramics on display. The paintings are woefully embarrassing.
Written 16 February 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
guy m
Kuching, Malaysia93 contributions
May 2017 • Solo
I asked for a tour guide and was given one hitch was a big help as little is in English. They actually have a quite good collection which is generally poorly displayed, curated and lit. Still worth a visit as there are a lot of great pots and interesting artwork. Please tip the guide as they are paid very little and mine was really helpful.
Written 26 May 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Aang174
Jakarta1,867 contributions
Feb 2016 • Friends
If you have 2 to 3 hours you may like to spend time here... enjoying some masterpiece paintings and ceramics from all over Indonesia's parts.
The museum is quite clean but the airconditioning are not working properly. Maybe it was because Jakarta is having hot weather.
There are 2 storeys and many exhibits to explore with a small garden inside.
Just lovely!
The museum is quite clean but the airconditioning are not working properly. Maybe it was because Jakarta is having hot weather.
There are 2 storeys and many exhibits to explore with a small garden inside.
Just lovely!
Written 9 February 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ezjosa
Jakarta, Indonesia162 contributions
Nov 2014 • Friends
Because I don't really know how to make art, the only thing is to appreciate them by visiting the museum. The collection was varies and I quite interested in the remnant stuff from sinking ship. Like most of Indonesia museum, the museum itself didn't get good maintenance. The most of ACs were not working and the basic facility like toilet is far from good.
Written 12 December 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
is it possible to create sth with ceramic or other materials by yourself? Do they have classes? In english?
Written 14 February 2018
Hi hello, uppss sorry for my late response,but i hope can help all of you who interested to visiting this place. Regarding your question,yes you can also learn how to make ceramics.There is a teaching staff who is on standby almost daily to guide visitors to learn how to make ceramics.Even the tools provided are complete, in addition to the clay material,there is also a ceramic rotary table to form the ceramics according to our pattern. For only $ 50, the you can attend this ceramics training session.Not only that, the results can also be taken home for memories.
Written 5 August 2019
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