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Theo Meijer was a Swiss bohemian artist who lived on Bali between 1937 and 1957. It has long been known that he had a private collection of his favourite Balinese paintings and drawings, but it had not been seen until well into the 1990s, when it was released by his widow from Meier’s studio in Thailand, where he lived the last period of his life.
We were able to purchase a first selection of the collection, which included a drawing of considerable significance not only to lovers of Balinese art, but also to students of the Pacific War period in Asian history.
The drawing (washed pen and ink on paper) is by the well known Sanur artist Ida Bagus Nyoman Rai (c. 1915 – 2000). It depicts a Sanur beach scene with Japanese soldiers firing their rifles. In the sea are a plane and 3 human figures.
Our research into the content of this drawing led to an eye witness to the 1942 downing of a US air force plane by the Japanese over Bali. Pak Wayan Gedar personally related the story to us. A photograph of Pak Gedar is shown here for the first time. When I asked him why he, a Pemuda (war hero), was not more widely known, his response reflected his modesty, ‘one becomes as famous as one presents oneself’.
Theo Meier and his Swiss compatriot Dr. Ernst Schlager were in Bali when WWII broke out. On account of being nationals from a neutral country, Meier and Schlager remained free on Bali, contrary to expatriates of countries involved in the war. Hence, people like Rudolf Bonnet and W.G. Hofker were interred. As a result of this situation, Balinese artists had few clients to purchase their work except for Meier and Schlager and perhaps very few others. This makes Balinese drawings from the early war period particularly significant.
The attached PDF file, written by Professor Adrian Vickers, in cooperation with Leo Haks, refers to the drawing under discussion,
Additional drawings from this Theo Meier collection will be added to the website, once restoration is complete.
Other drawings from the Theo Meier collection are on display at the Pasifika Museum at Nusa Dua in Bali.
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Ida Bagus Nyoman Rai, The battle of Bali
c. 1942-3, Washed pen and ink on paper
49 x 55 cm
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Pak Wayan Gedar (photo Leo Haks)
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559
Ida Bagus Nyoman Rai 1915-200
Sanur
56 x 75 cm
A festive meal in progress of preparation.
Theo Meier, Ernst Schlager and three chocordas are in attendence.
Washed pen and ink on paper. |
546
Ida Bagus Nyoman Rai 1915-200
Sanur
38 x 54.5 cm
Seemingly Theo Meier and Made Pergi in an
erotic pose, a third person is also involved
Washed pen and ink on paper. |
506
Ida Bagus Nyoman, attributed to Rai
Sanur
34 x 29 cm
Man and Woman Trading Fish
Washed pen and ink on paper. |
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513
Anonymous
Sanur
37 x 28 cm
Man and Woman in Garden.
Washed pen and ink on paper. |
517
Ida Bagus Nyoman Rai 1915-200
Sanur
38 x 29 cm
Impending Birth.
Washed pen and ink on paper. |
537
I Dewa Ktut Baroe
Batuan
34.5 x 27 cm
A Man is Captured by Witches (leak).
Washed pen and ink on paper. |
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579
Ida Bagus Nyoman (?) Tantra, 1913-1987
Batuan
27 x 21.5 cm
Woman Bathing Whilst a Man Looks On.
Washed pen and ink on paper. |
583
Ida Bagus Ketut Togog 1919-1983
Batuan
29 x 20 cm
Man and Women Holding a Child.
Washed pen and ink on paper. |
496
Ida Bagus Nyoman Rai (Klingking) 1915-200
Sanur
25.5 x 37.5 cm
As it appears, Theo Meier and Ernst Schlager interacting
with two wood workers.
Washed pen and ink on paper. |
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519
Anonymous
30 x 42 cm
Dog and Parrot Battle Over Food.
Washed pen and ink on paper. |
570
B S
Batuan
18 x 25 cm
Men and Insects.
Washed pen and ink on paper. |
562
Ida Bagus Made Bala, 1923-1942
Batuan
15 x 26.5 cm
Mythological Theme.
Washed pen and ink on paper. |
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534
Id Bagus Nyoman Buda
Sukawati
31 x 36 cm
The Battle Between Subali and Sugriwa.
Washed pen and ink and pigment on paper. |
592
Ida Bagus Nyoman Rai 1915-200
32.5 x 24.5 cm
A Balinese Lady.
Washed pen and ink on paper. |
539
Dw Putu Kebes
Batuan
37.5 x 27.5 cm
Preparation for the horse trance dance
(Sanghyang Jaran), where the man who
goes into trance and becomes a horse breathes in incense smoke.
Washed pen and ink on paper. |
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520
Anonymous
35 x 25 cm
Drawing of the Design of a Death Cloth for a Commoner.
Washed pen and ink on paper. |
540
Ida Bagus Nyoman
Sanur, Tampi, Batuan
37.5 x 27.5 cm
Four types of demons, tangan-tangan (head and hand),
anja-anja (head and foot), buta rante (chain demon),
kemanang (head on its own).
Pen and ink on paper. |
464
Ida Bagus Oka
Sukawati
31 x 35 cm
Doea Nona
Two unmarried women at a table with offerings.
Washed pen and ink on paper. |
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573
Ida Bagus Nyoman S (Sawa, Sasak or Sanur?)
22.5 x 25.5 cm
Preparing Offerings.
Washed pen and ink on paper. |
571
Ida Bagus Ketut Togog 1919-1983
Batuan
18 x 17 cm
Mythological Scene.
Washed pen and ink on paper. |
585
Ida Bagus Ketut Togog 1919-1983
Batuan
24 x 18 cm
Family Attending to a Child.
Washed pen and ink on paper. |
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536
Ida Bagus Nyoman Rai 1915-200
32 x 24 cm
A Balinese Woman.
Washed pen and ink on paper. |
535
Ida Bagus Nyoman Rai,
Portrait of a Balinese lady
32 x 24 cm
on reverse of 536 |
542
I Nyoman Ngendon
Batuan
34.5 x 25.5 cm
Portrait of a Balinese Lady.
Washed pen and ink on paper. |
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549
Possibly Ngendon
Batuan
30 x 23 cm
Portrait of a Man in Western Costume.
Washed pen and ink on paper. |
541
I Nyoman Ngendon
Batuan
37.5 x 25 cm
Portrait of a Balinese Lady.
Washed pen and ink on paper. |
485
Ida Bagus Ketut Togog 1919-1983
Batuan
31 x 24.5 cm
Mythological Character.
Washed pen and ink on paper. |
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483
Ida Bagus Ketut Togog, 1919-1983
Batuan
31 x 24.5 cm
Barong Landung
Washed pen and ink on paper |
484
Ida Bagus Ketut Togog, 1919-1983
Batuan
31 x 24.5 cm
Barong Landung
Washed pen and ink on paper |
547
I Ketut Pateh 1904-1981
Batuan
37 x 27 cm
Kunti, The Mother of the Pandawa Heroes
Washed pen and ink on paper |
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544
Wajan Punduh
37 x 27.5 cm
A Leak or Witch, Maesa (Bull) Wedana
Pen and ink on paper |
545
Wajan Punduh
Bagawan Wrespati
37.5 x 27.5 cm
The Divine Priest
Pen and ink on paper |
590
Dewa Made Kakul, 1910-1994
Batuan
23 x 27 cm
People with Fighting Cocks Meeting
Washed pen and ink on paper |
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525
Wayan Dajuh
28 x 38 cm
Tantri
A Bird Pecks the Eye of an Elephant
The elephant is ruining the forest, the small
animals band together to kill him
Washed pen and ink on paper |
581
I Ketut Pateh 1904-1981
Batuan
22 x 17 cm
Mythological scene with a female demon and
a prince with his servants (Laksamana?)
Washed pen and ink on paper |
467
I Tutur
Sanur
25 x 35 cm
Procession of Pigs
Washed pen and ink on paper |
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501
Anonymous
Sanur
27 x 35 cm
People in Front of a Closed Temple Complex
Washed pen and ink on paper |
502
Anonymous
Sanur
24 x 32 cm
Man Feeding his Cow
Washed pen and ink on paper |
521
Ida Bagus Poedja
B'kan
36 x 27 cm
Hunting Scene
Washed pen and ink on paper |
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493
Anonymous
Batuan
A Mythological Scene
26.5 x 18 cm
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494
Anonymous
Sanur
Hunting Scene with Lion
27 x 36 cm
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508
Anonymous
A Balinese Woman Looking in the Mirror
32 x 21 cm
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509
Ida Bagus Nyoman Rai
Sanur
Balinese Lady
32.5 x 25 cm |
200
Ida
Bagus Nyoman Rai
Sanur
Ngerorod, Marriage by Kidnapping
24.5 x
35.5 cm
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518
Ida Bagus Nyoman Rai 1915-200
Sanur
Mother Bathing her Baby
40 x 29 cm |
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538
Dewa Nyoman Dadug(?),
Batuan
A Priest Performs a Ceremony Over a Corpse
34 x 32 cm |
548
Anonymous
Washed pen and ink on paper
23 x 37 cm |
550
Ida Bagus Nyoman Rai 1915-200
Sanur
A Balinese Woman (Made Pegi?)
54 x 37 cm |
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551
Dewa Ketut Baroe
Batuan
Two images, it seems in the left are two
Balinese greeting Meier and
Schlager, in the
right picture Theo Meier
and Ernst Schlager
13 x 26.5 cm
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557
Ida Bagus Nyoman? Rai attributed
Sanur
Gunung Agung with people caught by the
avalanche, whilst others
make their getaway with their cattle
49.5 x 65 cm
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560
Ida Bagus Nyoman Rai
Sanghyang Dedari Trance Dance
Two pre-pubescent girls go into trance and are
possessed by heavenly
nymphs, usually performed to
exorcise a village
55 x 76 cm
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562
Ida Bagus Made Bala, 1923-1942
Batuan
Mythological Theme
15 x 26.5 cm |
572
Ida Bagus Ketut Togog 1919-1983
Batuan
Two Mythological Characters
24 x 14 cm |
576
Ida Bagus Ketut Togog
Inoe mburug (ie Buruk)
An Ugly Girl
24.5 x 19.5 cm |
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577
Dewa Putu Gunu(ng),
Batuan
Men Attacking Women who Carry Baskets on their Heads
22 x 24 cm |
588
Anonymous, possibly Ida Bagus Nyoman Rai
Fishermen Unloading Their Net
26 x 24 cm |
591
Anonymous
Sanur
Woman Feeding Pigs
23 x 30 cm |
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593
Anonymous, possibly Ida Bagus Nyoman Rai
Composition of Fisherman with Fish
29 x 22 cm |
594
Anonymous
Sanur
Barong Bangkal or Pig Barong with Gong Ensemble
16.5 x 24 cm |
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