Located in the idyllic village of Payogan in Ubud, Bali, the original intent behind Museum Gitarku Dewa Budjana was to store his beloved guitars. However, in the development of the museum, designed by acclaimed Balinese architect Popo Danes as part of the 100-room Royal Santosa Resort, Budjana felt that not only could it serve as a testament to his lifelong passion for the instrument, but also as his contribution for the people of Bali and Indonesia that would enable future generations to learn more about the musicians whose playing has graced the guitar over the years. The museum will feature instruments donated by an ever-expanding list of Indonesian and international musicians alike, from local heroes such as Chrisye, Rhoma Irama, Baim, Baron and Eross Candra to world-renowned virtuosos including Michael Landau,Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal, Scott Henderson, Mike Stern,Dweezil Zappa, Guthrie Govan, Pat Metheny, Steve Lukather, Bill Frisell, John Frusciante, Allan Holdsworth, Robbie Krieger, Michael Angelo Batio and Steve Vai

Also featured will be Budjana’s prized collection of guitars decorated by Indonesia’s finest painters and artists such as Jeihan, Teguh Ostenrik and Srihadi Soedarsono who have turned the instruments into priceless works of art in every sense of the term. These guitars will be showcased in a coffee table book written by respected journalist Bre Redana with contributions from top Indonesian photographers Darwis Triadi, Jay Subiyakto, Anton Ismael and many more. A launch event for the book will be held on August 30th, 2013 at Museum Nasional, Jakarta, where the guitars will also be on display in all their beauty. The book and exhibition are part of many plans connected to Museum Gitarku Dewa Budjana, with an annual Gitarku Festival to showcase the talents of Indonesian guitarists also in the works. In essence, Museum Gitarku Dewa Budjana will not only celebrate the guitar’s past, but will also help pave the way for its future.

Though the Indonesian public may best know him as the guitarist of Gigi, Dewa Budjana already had an illustrious music career long before he helped co-found one of Indonesia’s most beloved pop rock bands in 1994. Born in Waikabubak, West Sumba on August 30th 1963, I Dewa Gede Budjana first fell in love with the guitar at the age of 11 after hearing construction workers play the instrument during breaks near his parents’ house in their hometown of Klungkung, Bali, which eventually prompted him to liberate some of his grandmother’s money to buy his own guitar in Denpasar. Budjana spent his formative years in Surabaya, where he absorbed an array of influences ranging from Leo Kristi and John Denver to Yes, Jeff Beck and Pat Metheny, and started his first band, Squirrel, in 1980. While other local jazz bands at the time preferred to play cover versions, Squirrel were bold enough to rely on their own compositions, and won the Best Band title at the prestigious Light Music Contest in Jakarta due to Budjana’s original piece, “Nusa Damai”.

Upon graduating high school, Budjana moved to Jakarta to hone his craft under the tutelage of Indonesian jazz legend Jack Lesmana, whose son, Indra – a close friend and frequent collaborator to this day – persuaded Budjana to become a session musician. After working with various Indonesian orchestras and stints in Spirit Band and Java Jazz (the latter with Indra Lesmana), Budjana formed Gigi with several other seasoned session musicians and has remained an ever-present member with vocalist Armand Maulana through the band’s many ups and downs and personnel changes. Today, Gigi is one of the most prolific bands in Indonesian history, with 24 releases to their name and constant demand for their exciting live shows that showcase Gigi’s expansive repertoire of hits, many of which were co-written by Budjana.

Despite Gigi’s hectic schedule, Budjana has still managed to devote time to his solo career, releasing six albums which showcase his flair for melding progressive rock and traditional music. His solo album, Joged Kahyangan, was recorded live in Pasadena, California with the talents of drummer Peter Erskine, saxophonist Bob Mintzer, bassist Jimmy Johnson and pianist Larry Goldings. Harmony is an important principle in Budjana’s musical life, from the way he balances his thriving pop rock career in Gigi with his esoteric jazz interests, to his participation as a devout practicing Hindu in music collaborations devoted to other faiths.

In 2013, Dewa Budjana celebrate his 50th birthday. Given all that he has achieved as a musician to date, it would be understandable if he took a break. But with Gigi still going strong and a seventh solo album (recorded with Jimmy Johnson and super drummer Vinnie Colaiuta) already in the can, it looks like Dewa Budjana won’t be hanging up his guitars any time soon.

Dewa's ambitions on his instrument extend beyond his commercial success, as he has released eight solo albums, exploring his more adventurous jazz / fusion / progressive side. Dewa saw his audience grow from regional to worldwide, when he joined onto the MoonJune Records label in 2012, releasing four albums to date: Dawai In Paradise; Joged Kahyangan (w/ peter erskine, jimmy johnson,larry goldings, bob mintzer); Surya Namaskar (w/ Vinnie colaiuta, jimmy johnson) and his most recent album (which already has critics worldwide raving), "Hasta Karma" -- featuring Pat Metheny Unity Group's young phenom, Ben Williams (on upright bass) and the great Antonio Sanchez on drums, accompanying by veteran NYC session- Joe Locke on Vibraphone Dewa has worked with such modern-day icons as: Peter Erskine, the late Dave Carpenter, Howard Levy, Bob Mintzer, Jimmy Johnson, Vinnie Colaiuta, Larry Goldings, Indra Lesmana and more. Also, just earlier this year, Dewa completed two days of sessions in famed Woodstock, NY, accompanied by: the jazz legend, Jack DeJohnette; progressive rock icon, Tony Levin and the multi-talented virtuoso, Gary Husband.