Beautiful sanur beach became a silent witness of love between Le Mayeur and Ni Pollok, a painter and bali dancer. Their story seemed to be a legend of love which live to this day in memories, stories, imaginations that recorded in the Le Mayeur's paintings.
Le Mayeur is very highly praised three things in his life; beauty, sunlight and silence. The spirit of the traveler as a painter, causing it to seek adventure life obsession with exploring exotic places in the world. France, Italia, Morocco, Tunisia, Aljazair, India, Thailand, Cambodia and Tahiti had visited. Born as Belgian Royal Nobility and educated civil engineer polytechnic in Libre University Brussel not discourage his interest to be a painter. It is actually very strongly opposed by the father.
In 1932, by following an expedition by sea travel, Le Mayeur set foot in Singaraja. A sea port city on the north coast which once was the capital of the province of Bali. The island which so far only known through the film, it is really traced and he felt this place is sought obsession. Denpasar is the next place to start his new adventure. He stay in simple rental home which located in Banjar Kelandis Denpasar.
A beauty legong dancer, Ni Nyoman Pollok which still 15 years old often dancing in Pura Dalem Prajurit Desa Kelandi. She caught Mayeur's attention by her typical Balinese beauty, tall, slim body, oval-faced, dimpled cheeks, and though skilled in the art of dance, Mayeur's heart vibrated by her.
Le Mayeur ask Ni Pollok to be his painting model. She salaried one rupiah per day which is big amount in the era. Private tropical nature of Bali and earthy Ni Pollok capable of being a stimulant for all Mayeur's paintings.
He painted and continue to paint with the model. Devoted to describe the nature of all living culture of Bali with the following character colors and rich variety of flora and sea beaches by the sparkling sunshine.
Le Mayeur's works exhibited in Singapore in 1933 scored a great success and received wide appreciation in the arts. He returned to Bali and forget the original plan to stay on the island only for 8 months. Piece of land of Sanur bought and built a home studio doubles simple bamboo which overlooking to the open sea. Sanur beach which still so quiet, palm trees, tropical plants, rice fields, and the reeds along the shore seemed to be his private garden.
Le Mayeur and Ni Pollok work all day for years on the beach, under the palm trees, on the edge of lotus pond, or on a bed of wild plants. Everything meraka do with love and dedication. In the time between Le Mayeur started introducing Ni Pollok in letters and numbers at the top of the sand with a stick as stationery. He also taught French and English for Ni Pollok, as well as facilitate Indonesian.
Three years later, in 1935 at the age of 52 years Le Mayeur and Ni Pollok aged 18 years, confirmed the fabric of their love in a marriage with Balinese customs. Ni Pollok had remained a model for paintings Le Mayeur. The uniqueness of Le Mayeur's works featuring the Ni Pollok along with some other woman is actually an image of Ni Pollok man show in a variety of different poses. As a wife, Le Mayeur Ni Pollok gives the freedom to choose which one to paintings which will be collected and sold. The paintings that are not sold as ornaments for their homes.
Le Mayeur print every time you make a success of the exhibition in Singapore. All proceeds from the sale of paintings he used to beautify the home and studio. Perseverance years equip the house with a door, window, desk chairs, and bookcases of carved teak Balinese make a complete and beautiful dwelling. A rectangular coffee table antique eight complete with eight seats took six months of work. Ida Bagus Made Mas, the woodcarving artist takes up to 20 years to complete all the work. Le Mayeur give special attention to the yard, flower gardens, and a lotus pond with ornate statues Togog Balinese.
Now, it has become a modest house dwelling beautiful, beautiful sea view in front of him. Le Mayeur fame attracted European painters came and settled in Bali. Many foreign guests visited the Le Mayeur known eccentric Ni Pollok while enjoying exotic dances accompanied by gamelan in the sand beach. Bali Sanur name was sohor to the corners of the world and the first President Ir. Sukarno established the Bali Beach Hotel (now called the Grand Bali Beach Hotel) as the first international hotel in Bali for foreigners who live adjacent to the Le Mayeur and Ni Pollok.
Among happiness, joy, and distress of life lived Ni Pollok, one wishes to have a very damning her offspring. "If Pollok bear children, your body will be changed and the ugly. Pollok could no longer be a model. Let us sacrifice our whole lives for art, ... Pollok. "Said Le Mayeur the dear wife, as written in the book 'Ni Pollok: Model of Rural Kelandis' written by Yati Maryati Wiharja (1976). Great sacrifices they make to the world of painting paintings Le Mayeur is now becoming one of the master piece with a value of approximately $ 1,000,000, - Even Christie's auction house estimates the value of 1.1200.000 sd US $ 1.2821 million, - for an original painting Le Mayeur measuring 200 × 150 cm very decent for a major work based on the power of love and profound sacrifice.
In 1958, Le Mayeur was diagnosed with cancer and left ear Bali accompanied by Ni Pollok to get medical treatment in Belgium. After 2 months of treatment, Le Mayeur died at the age of 78 and was buried in Ixelles, Brussels. After the death of Le Mayeur, Ni Pollok back to Sanur armed with money Rp 150.000, - to fight for his own life and caring for Le Mayeur museum which has been submitted to the Government of Indonesia on August 28, 1957 According to the agreement for Ni Pollok was still alive, he is entitled to income the museum even with very minimal financial support from the government.
Ni Pollok continues to live with a small residential building in Denpasar replacement for the old house that has become a museum. Half of the land area remains a family-owned Ni Pollok and established an inn called 'Pollok Inn'. While in the museum area established 'Pollok's Art Shop' which has now become one of the family's livelihood. He made bust of Le Mayeur as the dedication of her love to her husband. The statue was then side by side with him when his statue Ni Pollok had died.
Ni Pollok had the opportunity to raise the degree of economic families who are poor by caring for the children of his brother, who was banned by the husband. In his old age, Ni Pollok painting and frequently visited Le Mayeur items that had been owned by collectors in various places. With such deep love, Ni Pollok faithfully caring for paintings and objects until the end of his life. He died in New York City on July 18, 1985 at the age of 68 years.
Written from a variety of sources.
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