Opening in 2026
Image of Eugene Museum in Bali © Eugene Museum in Bali © Andra Matin (Goldrain, 2021, © Eugene Kangawa / EUGENE STUDIO)
Located approximately 10 minutes from the World Heritage site of Tanah Lot Temple, and surrounded by lush greenery and water, the permanent Eugene Museum in Bali is scheduled to open in mid-2026. This permanent museum is being created by a collectors’ union rooted in Asia and Indonesia, with a vision for the next generation in Asia.
Designed by Indonesia’s leading architect Andra Matin in close collaboration with Eugene Kangawa, Eugene Studio—a Japanese contemporary artist born in the United States—the museum was conceived specifically for Kangawa’s works. It allows visitors to experience the coexistence of nature and humanity across a one-hectare site.
The museum was designed as reviving unused rice field land—avoiding existing trees, aligning with the paths of sunlight and constellations, and using reused terracotta materials to embrace aging over time. The resulting space, thoughtfully created by the artist and architect, may be described as a contemporary ruin.
In addition to workshops and nighttime tours, the site will feature a playroom, restaurant, library, and a “museum stay” accommodation program.
Goldrain, Imagination, Waves of Light, A Thousand Strata, The Eternal Road. Through experiences both inside and outside the museum, visitors will encounter shimmering golden rain, step into waves of light, be surrounded by tens of thousands of falling leaves, and dive themselves in massive golden paintings, celestial bodies, and light.Each work experience is designed to change significantly depending on natural conditions like weather and time of day, much like a landscape.
The museum was born from a movement led by Eugene’s collectors’ union following his major solo exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo, with the conviction that such works should be housed permanently.
The area where the museum is located is called Emerald. Aimed at enhancing the natural and environmental charm of the region, it will also feature restaurants and overnight accommodation programs. The initiative collaborates with the surrounding areas, including nuanu creative city, the adjacent Tanah Lot Temple area, and the Canggu region, to communicate the full appeal of the location.
*The museum is managed by a joint team of the museum and local community.
*Originating from Eugene’s solo exhibition Eugene Studio The New Sea / After the Rainbow (Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo, 2021–22), the project follows the same concept, with Kangawa generously contributing newly created works made especially for the museum.It will feature more than 15 permanent installations, including Eugene’s signature works Goldrain, Everything Shines, and Light and Shadow Inside Me among others.
*In late 2023, in preparation for the museum’s development, a preparatory room was established in Jakarta, located within the same building as the HQ of Art Jakarta.
As you walk along the limestone path, a beautiful museum surrounded by lush forest starts to appear. A serene entrance space welcomes your arrival. Behind the entrance, you will find more than 15 installations in perfect harmony with indoor and outdoor environment. Utilizing ample sunlight, the museum offers a distinctly varied ambiance and experience depending on the time of day you visit.
In the entrance space, libraries, select shops, and a cafe will be developed. The library will showcase books and documents related to the museum, while the cafe extends to the garden area.
Further details will be updated.
Concealed behind the museum, a few rooms will emerge after traversing a hidden passage. This preserved atelier area will offer exclusive accommodation. Guests can indulge in the entire museum area beyond business hours. Rooted in “sharing economy,” this concept delivers a diverse expressions of artworks in the morning, afternoon, and evening.
May 30, 2024
“The 3,000 sq metre Eugene Museum, designed by Andra Matin, will have more than 15 permanent works by contemporary artist Eugene Kangawa (born 1989). These range from paintings to immersive installations.”
May 30, 2024
“Eugene Museum di Bali, Lampui Kerangka Pameran Seni Keliling yang Ada”
May 30, 2024
“Peluncuran Eugene Museum Bali dan Debut Karya di Art Jakarta 2024
May 30, 2024
“Un nouveau musée privé devrait ouvrir ses portes à Bali, au Sud de l’Indonésie, début 2026. Le musée Eugene porte le nom de l’artiste auquel il sera entièrement dédié, un artiste japonais, né dans le New Jersey, en 1989.”
Experience,Introduction to Indonesia
Indonesia¹ is the world’s largest archipelago and the fourth most populous country. It is home to a diverse array of cultures, languages, and traditions.
Within this vibrant country, Bali² will unveil distinctive artworks of Eugene, harmonizing seamlessly with its natural surroundings.
*1 Indonesia is the fourth populous country in the world, with a total population of approximately 270 million. About a quarter of this population is under the age of 14, underscoring a significant youth demographic. The country has achieved notable economic development, hosting events such as the G20 summit in Bali in 2022. Bali, where three (at most in one region) Aman Hotels/Aman Resorts locates is leading the cultural scenes of Southeast Asia.
*2 In 2021, Bali received acclaim as the world’s top tourist destination, as per TripAdvisor’s Travelers’ ChoiceTM World’s Most Popular Tourist Destinations 2021. This recognition attracts an annual influx of diverse visitors, approximately 15 million people, from various countries worldwide. The island’s ongoing development includes plans for a second airport in the northern region, complementing the existing Ngurah Rai International Airport and anticipating further growth.
Surrounding the museum will be a vibrant yet serene cityscape, nestled amidst lush forests and the sea, featuring schools, restaurants, residences, sound studios, beaches, a recycle lab, etc.
For all generations, transcending nations.
With surrounding educational institutions, we are committed to support both local and international initiatives through our activities.
Strolling along the limestone road and crossing a small river by a bridge, the museum emerges passing through the forest of green and sunlight.
The permanent museum will span over 1 ha with a 5,000 m² facility.
Adjacent to the museum entrance, there is a library and café. In the evening, Post-closing stay program will be arranged. Surrounding the museum, there are residences, restaurants, and music studios in the vicinity.
The collaboration with the architect transforms the landscape and facility into a unified work of art.
Inspired by the architectural philosophies of classic Balinese villages, Eugene Museum will comprise over 15 gallery spaces revolving around a ‘Natah’, an open space which functions as gathering point and center of orientation.
By way of unifying Eugene Museum and its surrounding landscape, ample natural light will flow through the gallery spaces, echoing Eugene’s artistic concerns around coexistence and symbiosis with the world.
*Details of the artworks will be gradually disclosed.
Eugene Kangawa (b.1989, New Jersey, United States) is a Japanese contemporary artist known for his paintings and large scale installations.
Previous exhibitions include ‘After the Rainbow’ at the Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo, “De-sport” the 21st Century Museum in Kanazawa, and “89+” at the Serpentine Gallery in London. Eugene was identified in the 2017 publication The Age of Art × Technology (written by Daisuke Miyatsu and Kobunsha Shinsho) as one of four leading Japanese artists working in art and technology, along with teamLab and others. He is the youngest artist ever to host a solo exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo.
We, the museum, interpret Eugene creates works that harness and expand the imagination of the mind, delving into the universal concepts around love, fate, and ephemerality, and metaphysics of human existence. In 2023, with the unwavering support of a multinational audience, plans have been set in motion for his first-ever global permanent facility, “Eugene Museum” in Bali.
Andra Matin (b.1962, Bandung) is a well-known figure in contemporary Indonesian and Asian architecture. Matin studied architecture at Parahyangan University in his hometown, before setting up his namesake practice in 1998.
Known for his contemporary take on traditional Indonesian architecture, his studio has designed and built over a hundred projects throughout Indonesia, including residential, hospitality and leisure, and educational spaces, among others. Notable projects include Blimbingsari Airport (2010), Potato Head Beach Club (2010), Tubaba Mosque (2017).
Matin has won numerous awards and has achieved international recognition. Recent accolades include an honorable mention at the 2018 Venice Architecture Biennale and won the prestigious Aga Khan awards in 2022.
The area is located 1 hour from the airport, 45 minutes from Ubud, surrounded by numerous World Heritage sites, and 15 minutes from Canggu and the Tanah Lot Temple.
Immersed in dense forests, floating temples on the sea, and golden rain.
It’s a gifted encounter with the surreal assets of Bali.
A condensed experience where the old and the new intersect.
This is what destinations should be.
Indonesia is the fourth populous country in the world, with a total population of approximately 270 million. About a quarter of this population is under the age of 14, underscoring a significant youth demographic.
The country has achieved notable economic development, hosting events such as the G20 summit in Bali in 2022. Bali, where three (at most in one region) Aman Hotels/Aman Resorts locates is leading the cultural scenes of Southeast Asia.
In 2021, Bali received acclaim as the world’s top tourist destination, as per TripAdvisor’s Travelers’ ChoiceTM World’s Most Popular Tourist Destinations 2021. This recognition attracts an annual influx of diverse visitors, approximately 15 million people, from various countries worldwide. The island’s ongoing development includes plans for a second airport in the northern region, complementing the existing Ngurah Rai International Airport and anticipating further growth.
The Museum is located adjacent to schools, direct and a few minutes approach from the entrance of the area.
As the neighbors, there are residences, restaurants, and music studios in the vicinity.
Strolling through greenery, sunlight, and wind, the museum emerges passing through the forest.
A museum embodies “symbiosis,” preserving the beauty of the original landscape of the area.
Architect
Comment / Andra Matin
Established in 1998, andramatin is a studio based in Jakarta, Indonesia.The practice, which was once consisted of small team working mainly on residential projects, has now expanded to do broader scale and type of projects varying from furniture to urban design projects. ...
Artist
Interview with Eugene Kangawa
Visiting Indonesia and engaging with friends there has been a true joy. I would like to thank the people who have said they wanted to make it a permanent museum, and those who committed to the realization. ...
There is an ongoing program at the atelier in Japan (EUGENE STUDIO/Atelier iii) since last year, a portion of the spacious area of approximately 700 m², is open to the public. Visitors can explore exhibitions featuring ‘Goldrain,’ take part in new evening programs, and observe the display of new artworks and models.
The program operates on a pre-reservation basis. For more details, please visit here.
