Faces carved from wood, with painted eyes and open mouths, look out at you from the walls of this museum. Beside them hang flat leather puppets cut so finely that light passes through them like lace. The House of Masks and Puppets Setia Dharma is a museum built around these two crafts. It sits in Mas, a village south of Ubud known for its woodcarvers, which is a fitting home for a collection of carved faces.
The House of Masks and Puppets Setia Dharma: hours, entry and location
| Type | Museums |
|---|---|
| Official site | http://www.maskandpuppets.com/ |
| Map | Open the map |
Masks and puppets are not decoration in Bali. They are used in dance, in temple ceremonies and in the retelling of old epics. Here they are brought together so you can look closely at each piece. You can study the shape of a nose, the curl of a lip and the paint on a brow, things you rarely see from the back of a crowd at a performance. It is a good stop if you want to understand what you saw on stage the night before.
Faces that tell a story
A mask in Bali is a character. Some are kings, some are clowns, some are demons and some are gentle old men. Each type has its own features, so once you learn to read them you can tell a hero from a villain at a glance. The museum lets you practise this by putting many faces side by side.
The collection is not limited to Bali. Masks and puppets are made across Indonesia and in many other parts of the world, and seeing them together shows how different cultures solve the same problem. How do you turn a human face into a symbol? Some answers are fierce and some are funny. All of them show a maker who wanted the viewer to feel something.
The puppets to look for
Look for the flat shadow puppets first. Wayang kulit puppets are cut from leather and held up behind a lit screen, so the audience watches the shadows. Up close you can see the tiny punched patterns and the long, thin arms that the puppeteer moves with sticks. They look quite different when you can walk around them instead of watching a shadow.
Then look for the rounded wooden puppets, which are carved in the full shape of a figure. These have heads, bodies and clothes, and they show how much work goes into a single character. Compare them with the flat ones and you will see two very different ways of telling the same kinds of stories.
A museum in a village of carvers
Mas is a place where wood carving is part of daily life. Workshops and galleries line the road, and many families have carved for generations. A museum of masks fits naturally here. After you leave, the craft is still around you, in the shops and the studios you pass.
The setting also keeps the visit calm. This is a village museum rather than a big city institution, so you can take your time with each case. Stand in front of a single mask for a few minutes and notice the small details of the carving. Those details are what the museum is really about.
Other stops around Mas and Ubud
Museum Rudana is a natural next stop if you want more art. It is another museum in the same part of Gianyar, and it gives you a wider look at Indonesian art after the focused view of masks and puppets. Together they make a good morning for anyone curious about Balinese creativity.
If you prefer old stones and ancient sites, head to Goa Gajah and Yeh Pulu. Goa Gajah is a cave site with a carved entrance, and Yeh Pulu is known for its carvings cut into a rock face. The Purbakala Archaeological Museum is close to them and explains the early history of the island. Seeing carved faces in a museum, then carved faces in old stone, makes a neat theme for the day.
Common questions about the museum
What is the House of Masks and Puppets Setia Dharma?
It is a museum in Bali dedicated to masks and puppets. The collection brings together carved and crafted pieces so visitors can see how these traditions look up close.
Is the House of Masks and Puppets Setia Dharma free to enter?
No, the museum charges an entry fee. The amount is not stated here, so no price is given.
What can I visit near the House of Masks and Puppets?
Museum Rudana, Goa Gajah, Yeh Pulu and the Purbakala Archaeological Museum are all nearby. Together they cover art, ancient carvings and the early history of the island.
Where is the museum?
It is in Mas, a woodcarving village south of Ubud in Gianyar. The village setting suits a museum about carved masks and crafted puppets.
Near The House of Masks and Puppets Setia Dharma
- Museum Rudana (1.12 km)
- Goa Gajah (1.32 km)
- Yeh Pulu (1.4 km)
- Purbakala Archaeological Museum (2.12 km)
Tours that stop at The House of Masks and Puppets Setia Dharma
More museums and sights: things to do in Bali.