Setia Darma House of Masks and Puppets

Setia Darma House of Masks and Puppets Review

Puppetry is serious stuff across Southeast Asia, an important part of traditional and religious ceremonies. Setia Darma House of Masks and Puppets celebrates the tradition. More than 1,000 items, predominantly from Bali and Java, are shown in four joglo, Javanese wooden houses. Intricate wayang kulit, leather characters for shadow puppetry, headline the collection that also features wayang golek (wooden puppets), masks for topeng dances, and pieces from Africa and Europe. Displays, (English) labels, and lighting are all first-class. Located in a small village surrounded by rice fields, the museum's grounds include lotus ponds, brooding banyan trees, and performance areas. If you taxi from Ubud, museum staff can arrange transport back.