Originally published: Robb Report Collection

October 2014

Hendra Hadiprana and his Jakarta-based art gallery—one of the country’s oldest—are largely responsible for placing modern Indonesian artists on the world map. At 85 years old, the University of Groningen, Netherlands–trained architect is also a prominent collector of Indonesian art, commissioning work for his residential projects and gallery, as well as for his extensive private collection, which art enthusiasts can explore at the Chedi Club, his 12-acre resort. Hadiprana originally designed Chedi as his own residence and the property still displays more than 100 contemporary and traditional paintings and sculptures from his personal collection, including pieces from Susilo Budi Purwanto and I Made Hantaguna.
Numerous elephant statues, which Hadiprana commissioned from sculptor I Wayan Winten, are also scattered throughout the resort’s grounds, adorned with skirt-like coverings fashioned from a traditional black-and-white checkered fabric that symbolizes good versus evil. Guests of the Chedi Club may also learn the history of Indonesian art during on-site discussions with Bruce Granquist, an illustrator and expert on Balinese art.

Highlight: A hands-on art class on abstract and decorative techniques led by prominent Balinese artists such as I Made Gunawan and I Wayan Bawa Antara. Classes take place a short drive from the resort at Duadari—Hadiprana’s current vacation home, where he keeps an additional 200 pieces from his collection, including large-scale reproductions of the sacred Barong character from Balinese folklore and numerous pairs of angel sculptures, which inspired the house’s name (dua dari means "two of" in Indonesian). (ghmhotels.com)