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ndonesia has a strong cultural tradition of incorporating masks into rituals and artistic displays. In almost every region in the archipelago, the art of mask design is recognized as a century-old tradition closely linked to religion and folk art.

Locally known as topeng, masks for ritual activities are often also found in parts of Indonesia outside Java and Bali like Papua, Kalimantan, Sumatra, Sulawesi.

In Java and Bali, masks are traditionally associated with a large variety of performing arts including drama, dance and theater performances.

Indonesia is home to thousands of styles of classical and traditional masks, but in the course of modernity, not many of the intricate designs survive.

The decrease in classical performing art shows and the disappearance of traditional rituals have threatened the livelihood of mask designers and the richness and diversity of Indonesian cultural heritage.

Of course, low-quality masks continue to be produced en masse as souvenirs for the robust tourist industry. However, the real "avant-garde" and traditional hand-made art form is slowly fading away.

This situation has prompted many art lovers, including businessman and philanthropist Hadi Sunyoto, to preserve and conserve this precious national legacy.

Hadi decided to create a space to collect, preserve and promote the art form of mask design and puppetry.

As a result, the House of Masks and Puppets - Rumah Topeng dan Wayang - was built in a one-hectare plot of land in Kububingin, Ubud, about 30 kilometers northeast of Denpasar.

Hauw Ming, who represents Hadi Sunyoto, told The Jakarta Post that it was called a "house" to ensure people felt comfortable with their surroundings.

"All facilities are open free to the public because it is dedicated to those who want to learn about our rich culture," he said.

"We are still adding collections and upgrading and renovating the facilities, so hopefully it will be finished by 2010," Hauw Ming said.

The soft opening of the House of Mask and Puppets is scheduled for Saturday (July 25th) night, and will be attended by the chairman of Bali Bangkit (Bali Revives), Jusuf Wanandi.

The collection at the center currently consists of around 4,600 pieces, of which more than 1,000 are masks from Indonesia, Africa and Japan. Another 3,600 items are puppets from Indonesia, China, Malaysia, Thailand, Myanmar and Cambodia.

Among the mask collections include pieces from Sasak in Lombok, Bali, Yogyakarta, Wonosobo, Dieng, Betawi, Losari and Batak masks from North Sumatra and Papua.

Meanwhile, the puppet (Wayang) collections comprise of rare leather pieces such as the Cek Dong puppet, the Parwa, Tantri, Calon Arang and Arja from Bali and others from Purwo Solo, Yogya and Cirebon.

The rich pieces on display at the center were meticulously collected throughout the past seven years by a team of art enthusiasts including Prayitno and Frans Immanuel, with financial support from Hadi Sunyoto.

All of these collections are beautifully placed in four different traditional Javanese antique houses known as Joglo. These unique teak-wooden buildings are mostly from the Middle and East Java, similar to where most of the collections of masks and puppets originate from.

"The House also collects masks and puppets from overseas for Indonesians and other guests to learn about different cultures," he said.

The House of Masks and Puppets is currently undergoing a major renovation to transform the space into a contemporary, public museum.

"We invited a museum management expert, Santy Saptari, to help improve the facilities and the quality of our center so now it will function as a museum and a research and study center," he said.

A PhD candidate from the Netherlands is now studying masks and puppets at the establishment, he added.

More space and facilities will be added to the center soon, along with permanent and temporary exhibitions, a study center, a restaurant, a shop and additional parking spaces.