On 11 July 2025, SAKA Museum – AYANA Bali’s cultural and knowledge centre – marked a key milestone with a special event titled Lila Cita Sukaning Manah, meaning “Sincere Intent, Joyful Heart” in Balinese. The evening brought together figures from the arts, academia, media, government, and business to celebrate two major achievements: the completion of four core exhibitions and SAKA’s rising global recognition.
In just one year, SAKA Museum has received several international honours, including a spot on TIME Magazine’s World’s Greatest Places 2024, a Kyoto Global Design Award (Top 100 for Environmental Design), and the Prix Versailles recognition as one of the World’s Most Beautiful Museums 2025. These accolades reflect SAKA’s success in merging cultural preservation with innovative and sustainable design.
The celebration also marked the unveiling of four thoughtfully curated exhibitions, developed by local and international experts:
- Kasanga, curated by Gurat Institute, offers a deep dive into Nyepi, Bali’s Day of Silence. This multi-floor, multisensory exhibit blends sculptures, archival photos, installations, and film to capture the spiritual essence of Nyepi.
- Subak: The Ancient Order of Bali explores Bali’s traditional irrigation system, recognised by UNESCO. With interactive displays and a light-and-sound show, it highlights the ecological wisdom and community values behind Subak.
- Panca Maha Bhuta presents rare sacred objects through the Balinese lens of the five elements—earth, water, fire, air, and ether—offering insight into the unseen forces that shape Balinese rituals and creativity.
- Twilight Journey, a dome installation by artists Wahyudi Chandra and Raden Cahyoko (Kokok), uses immersive audiovisual storytelling to recreate the starry Nyepi night and invite quiet reflection on Bali’s sacred landscape.
The event was a heartfelt gathering to acknowledge the shared effort behind SAKA’s journey, honouring curators, collaborators, and partners who helped bring the museum to life. Lila Cita Sukaning Manah served as a moment of gratitude and a celebration of what can be achieved when art, culture, and community come together.
With its four signature exhibitions now complete, SAKA Museum continues to position itself as a leading platform for cultural storytelling, thoughtful design, and sustainability—both in Indonesia and on the global stage.
For more information, visit www.sakamuseum.org
