Blanco Museum Ubud

Instant Karma Magazine made a visit to the Blanco Museum in Ubud. The Dali of Bali. This was the name given to the eccentric artist and painter Don Antonio Maria Blanco, who emigrated to Bali in the 1950s.

Antonio Blanco married his muse, the beautiful Legon Dancer, Ni Rondji; and he also contributed a lot to making Ubud the cultural and artistic centre of Bali.

Don Antonio Maria Blanco is of Spanish origin. He grew up in the Philippines. The founder and owner of 20th Century Fox Asia took the young Antonio to New York, where he studied Art and worked in the film industry. He was not only a sought-after artist, but he was also an actor and knew many stars from the film business, such as William Holden, John Steinbeck and Ingrid Bergman were his friends.

The American dream wasn’t his…

Antonio Blanco had a clear vision of where he wanted to spend his life since he was 6 years old, and that was on an exotic island like Bali. So, when he got hold of the book “Island of Bali” by José Miguel Covarrubias, Antonio remembered his vision and finally emigrated to Bali. That book became his constant companion.

Follow your heart

At that time, Singaraja was the capital of Bali. When Antonio arrived on land in Singaraja, it did not look like his vision. He met the Vice Governor of Bali on his journey, who took Antonio with him, as he had to travel south anyway.

The adventure went across the island and stopped in Ubud. There Antonio met the king of Ubud.

In the right place at the right time

The King of Ubud had big plans.

He wanted to make Ubud the Jungle Village with its rice fields known to the World.

Don Antonio Maria Blanco came to Bali at the right time. Other artists like Walter Spies and Rudolf Bonnet had started before him; he successfully continued on the King’s behalf.

The only place where tourists from the south could go, where they could experience Balinese culture and art.

Since the 1950s, Ubud has become more famous and is now a top 10 destinations in the world.

The most giant signature in the World

The most giant signature in the world is located on the land of Don Antonio Blanco Museum in Ubud,

– “yes, it is his own signature and stands recognisably 15 m high”

at the entrance gate to the museum. The whole massive piece is made of Italian green marble

It’s a vibrant place where classical music plays in a beautiful garden, where one meets exotic birds, which Don Antonio Blanco loved.

The Blanco Museum in Ubud is built entirely in European style, and the philosophy is Hindu, designed by Don Antonio Blanco himself. The museum’s property is picturesquely situated in the centre of Ubud, above the river Wos, with a direct view of the Campuhan Bridge, where the two rivers Yeh Wos Kiwa and Yeh Wos Tengen meet.

A symbol of the dynamic between feminine and masculine energies. Instant Karma Magazine had the honour of  talking to Mario Blanco. He told us:

“Don Antonio Blanco spent a lot of time in this room.”

Today it is part of the museum and the creative retreat zone of his son Mario Blanco, who has followed in his father’s footsteps.

“In this room, I am more creative than anywhere else. This is where my images of art are born. My mind connects with my heart, and my hands begin to paint…”

Our museum should be a teacher

The museum here was our house before my father converted it into a museum. My father always said:

“I want to build a museum because I am not a good teacher. When people visit the Blanco Museum, I want to inspire people.”

On the dome of the roof, there is a lotus. This lotus symbolises 4 ears

2 of my mothers, 2 of my fathers. If he is no longer alive, he can still hear the positive and negative criticisms of the museum visitors.

“This is my mom, and it’s the master piece”

His favourite subject was the beauty of Balinese women. Thus, Antonio Blanco is considered one of the great artists of exoticism in Bali, the forerunner of today’s tourism.

The Blanco Museum is an eccentric museum, like the artist himself. Nevertheless, it is an inspiring museum with a lot of humour and erotic details. People from all over love to come here, to spend their time and want to find out what the secrets behind the erotic paintings of Don Antonio Blanco are.

Today Mario Blanco continues the life’s work of his father.  He feels responsible for keeping the myth, the art and culture of Ubud alive.

Visit the Blanco Museum here:

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