NEWS
MAY 30 2024
Last updated: June 1, 2026
Announcement: Emme—A Permanent Home for the Works of Eugene Kangawa, Initiated by Collectors from Across Asia and ASEAN (Operated by a Local Public-Interest Foundation and a Local Corporation; Scheduled for Completion in 2026)
Through the proposal, support, and initiative of collectors connected to Asia, ASEAN, and Indonesia—and their wish to preserve the works for future generations—the solo exhibition The New Sea / After the Rainbow (held at the Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo in 2021–22) has since evolved into a permanent museum dedicated to the works of Eugene Kangawa / EUGENE STUDIO.
Emme was established and is independently operated in Indonesia by Yayasan Emmerald for Earth, an Indonesian public-interest foundation, and Desa Emmerald, a local corporation. A portion of the museum’s revenue is intended to support environmental conservation activities and educational programs, which is another defining feature of this new museum. These entities are currently overseeing the museum’s construction, which is scheduled for completion in 2026.
EUGENE STUDIO expresses its deep gratitude to all those who proposed and brought to life a concrete plan—far beyond anything the Studio could have imagined—to preserve these works in a permanent home for future generations. The Studio also hopes that the museum will make a meaningful contribution to the local community for generations to come. EUGENE STUDIO creates the artworks and contributes to the museum’s conceptual development and architectural dialogue with the museum’s architect, Andra Matin, while the museum itself is independently owned and operated by these Indonesian entities.
The museum is currently under construction in Bali, near a UNESCO World Heritage-listed cultural landscape. Emme will comprise facilities with a total floor area of approximately 3,000 square meters.
Emme, Initial sketch of the museum
Final form, (CG) © Andra Matin © Eugene Kangawa / EUGENE STUDIO © Emme
Through the vision, considerable efforts, and direct involvement of collectors connected to Asia, ASEAN, and Indonesia—and their wish to preserve the works for future generations—construction has begun on Emme, a permanent museum dedicated to the works of Eugene Kangawa / EUGENE STUDIO. This museum originated in a wish and proposal from community members who visited Eugene’s solo exhibition The New Sea / After the Rainbow at the Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo (2021–22): to create a permanent home for the works.
We wish to express our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who proposed ideas beyond anything we could have imagined and dedicated themselves to making this permanent museum a reality. We hope that the museum will contribute meaningfully to the local community and the wider region for generations to come.
Located near a UNESCO World Heritage-listed cultural landscape in Bali, Emme is being developed on a one-hectare site, with its main building totaling approximately 3,000 square meters in floor area. The architecture is being developed through dialogue between Andra Matin, one of Indonesia’s leading architects, and Eugene Kangawa. The museum is scheduled for completion in 2026.
The museum and its surrounding landscape are being developed in accordance with Indonesian law by Yayasan Emmerald for Earth and Desa Emmerald, which will independently operate and manage the museum. These Indonesian organizations are responsible for its development, legal affairs, public relations, and recruitment, and will oversee its day-to-day operations and management. Eugene Kangawa / EUGENE STUDIO creates the artworks and contributes to the museum’s conceptual development and architectural dialogue.
Surrounded by sea and greenery, the museum was designed by Andra Matin—recipient of the Aga Khan Award for Architecture and a Special Mention at the Venice Biennale International Architecture Exhibition—who is widely regarded as one of Indonesia’s foremost architects.
Notes
For employment opportunities at Emme, please contact the museum directly or visit website, the employment platform of Indonesia’s Ministry of Manpower. Recruitment is managed independently by Emme’s Indonesian operating organizations. Eugene Kangawa / EUGENE STUDIO is not involved in the museum’s recruitment. Thank you for your interest.
Key facts
- Museum Name:
- Emme
- Type:
- Permanent museum
- Location:
- Bali, Indonesia
- Established and Operated by:
- Yayasan Emmerald for Earth, an Indonesian public-interest foundation, and Desa Emmerald. Through the public-interest foundation, a portion of the museum’s revenue will be directed toward environmental conservation activities and educational programs, which is another defining feature of this new museum.
- Origin:
- Initiated through the wish, proposal, and support of collectors connected to Asia, ASEAN, and Indonesia following Eugene Kangawa’s 2021–22 solo exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo. Moved by the exhibition and wishing to carry that experience forward to future generations, the community formed around this initiative set out to create the museum on a site of fallow rice fields while avoiding the removal of existing trees.
The museum is currently under construction in Bali, in a verdant setting at the foot of a UNESCO World Heritage area with which the collectors have close ties. - Scheduled Completion:
- 2026
- EUGENE STUDIO’s Role:
- Creation of the artworks and contributions to the museum’s conceptual development and architectural dialogue
- Architect:
- Andra Matin
- *Museum Name:
- Emme (official name; formerly referred to by the working title Eugene Museum in Bali)
Final form, (CG) © Andra Matin © Eugene Kangawa / EUGENE STUDIO © Emme
Official Information from Emme
Further information about the museum’s architecture, artworks, environmental and educational initiatives, visitor experience, and future programs is available on Emme’s official website. The descriptions and information provided there are published by Emme and its Indonesian operating organizations.
INTERVIEW
Emme Presents – Pre-Opening Interview
Andra Matin & Eugene Kangawa (EUGENE STUDIO) — “Voices from Indonesia” [English Subtitles]
Highlights from 2024, featuring voices from people in Indonesia.
Planning & Editing: Emme
INTERVIEW
Emme Presents – Pre-Opening Interview
Andra Matin & Eugene Kangawa (EUGENE STUDIO) — “Voices from Indonesia” [English & Japanese Subtitles]
Highlights from 2024, featuring voices from people in Indonesia.
Planning & Editing: Emme
INTERVIEW
Eugene Museum “Interview” Part. 1&2 Andra Matin/Eugene Kangawa (Eugene Studio) [English Subtitles]
An interview by the Emme.
Architect Andra Matin and artist Eugene Kangawa discuss the concepts and materials, with new perspective sketches, at Eugene’s atelier and home.
(This video was recorded in May 2024.)
INTERVIEW
Eugene Museum “Interview” Part. 1&2 Andra Matin/Eugene Kangawa (Eugene Studio) [Japanese Subtitles]
An interview by the Emme.
Architect Andra Matin and artist Eugene Kangawa discuss the concepts and materials, with new perspective sketches, at Eugene’s atelier and home.
(This video was recorded in May 2024.)
© Emme
About Andra Matin
Indonesia’s Andra Matin (b. 1962) is among the nation’s most distinguished architects. His accolades include a Special Mention at the 2018 Venice Biennale International Architecture Exhibition and the prestigious Aga Khan Award for Architecture in 2022—one of the highest honors in the Islamic world. His diverse portfolio encompasses residential projects, museums, mosques, and public facilities. Notable works include Blimbingsari Airport, Potato Head (2010), and Tubaba Mosque (2017).
Born in Bandung, West Java, he graduated from the Faculty of Architecture at Parahyangan University in 1981, worked at Grahacipta Hadiprana from 1990 to 1998, and established his own practice in 1998. Today, his Bandung-based firm employs over 40 staff members.
www.andramatin.com
Comment by Architect Andra Matin
“For the Emme, it is essential that the architecture harmonizes seamlessly with Eugene’s works while reflecting the traditions, culture, and spirit of Bali. My practice is rooted in a profound respect for nature, and I feel a deep affinity with his art. This project delicately weaves together art, human activity, and nature, embodying elements that speak to cosmology.
In Bali, there is a traditional residential arrangement known as the Natah System, in which community life revolves around shared spaces that foster rest and connection. Inspired by this system, the museum is envisioned as a place of symbiosis—between the architecture, nature, Eugene’s works, and its visitors—making full use of local materials and craftsmanship, such as terracotta.
I hope this museum will become a landmark in Indonesia where people can encounter exceptional contemporary art and architecture. Through the combined efforts of an Indonesian architectural team and a Japanese contemporary artist, we aim to create spaces and experiences shaped by highly refined craftsmanship. My wish is for people in Indonesia and around the world to feel a genuine sense of connection with this place.”
© Andra Matin
© Andra Matin
Final form, (CG) © Andra Matin © Eugene Kangawa / EUGENE STUDIO © Emme
Eugene Kangawa / EUGENE STUDIO
Eugene Kangawa (born 1989, USA) is known for abstract painting and installations centered on themes of human existence, time, and history.
His exhibitions and projects include EUGENE STUDIO The New Sea/After the Rainbow (Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo, 2021–22); de-sport: (21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa, 2020); 1/2 century later. (Shiseido Gallery, Tokyo, 2017); and 89+ (Serpentine Galleries, London, 2014), among others.
Following international recognition of his solo exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo—centered on “symbiosis” and the “power of imagination,” at which he became the youngest artist to hold such an exhibition—a permanent museum dedicated to his work, brought to life by the vision and dedicated efforts of collectors across Asia and ASEAN, is now under construction by a local operating organization on an approximately one-hectare site near a UNESCO World Heritage site in Bali. (The Emme is scheduled to open in 2026.)
His short film has also been selected for—and received awards at—several international film festivals, including the Rhode Island International Film Festival, the Brooklyn Film Festival, and the Pan African Film Festival.
He currently works near Tokyo at Atelier iii—a lush studio designed and DIY-built by the artist and his team—together with a diverse, cross-disciplinary staff.
the-eugene-studio.com
Comment by Eugene Kangawa
“First of all, I would like to express my deepest gratitude for the extraordinary proposal to establish a permanent museum—something I could never have imagined or even conceived on my own. The proposal came as an extraordinary surprise. An initiative that reaches across national borders can, of course, only be realized through the generous support of many people and the efforts of everyone who has helped move it forward. I sincerely hope that it will become a place of importance to the local community and to everyone involved.
Visiting Indonesia and spending time with friends there was a truly joyful experience. The remarkable architecture by Andra Matin is now nearing completion, the museum’s official name has been decided, and we are all looking forward with great anticipation to the day it is completed.
The themes currently being considered for the museum include “Symbiosis,” “Meta-Nature,” “Diverthing (Divert-Thing),” and “the Power of Imagination.” Throughout this process, the details of each work were shared closely, giving rise to an interesting process in which the works, the paintings, and the architecture resonate with one another and are designed together.
The architecture as a whole can also be experienced as part of the works. Some areas receive a great deal of natural light and undergo significant changes depending on the time of day, so the same work may take on a different appearance by day and by night.
I hope that this will become an open place that expresses an equal exploration of all things in nature and existence, and that it will exist together with the architecture, the landscape, and the people who visit it.”
Excerpts from the film
Imelda Akmal (Founder & Chief Editor, Archinesia):
“Beyond their shared visual domains, there is also a resonance felt at the level of the soul. This is why I believe it will be an extraordinary collaboration. Because Andra and Eugene have a similarity—not a similarity you can see, but one you can feel.”
Syahmedi Dean (Co-Founder & Editorial Director, Luxina):
“I was convinced of the positive energy of these installations influencing the whole world. It will be a place where one can sit and daydream with the art. The power of space, the power of geometry, and the power of architecture.”
(About Eugene Kangawa’s White Painting Series):
“I realized that I had been imagining someone deeply important in my life—my mother. She is no longer with us. Perhaps it is due to regrets from the past, but through this work I was moved to tears.”