Tegun Galeri brings together the concepts of a museum and a shop. The intriguing, ever-changing collection includes everything from primitive carvings to highly refined woodwork, textiles and other crafts. Originally, Tegun Galeri was a small painting gallery run by Ubud craftsman, Dek Gun, and named after his father, the patriarch of the family, Bapak Wayan Tegun. Today, Tegun Galeri, one of Ubud's largest and most varied Folk Art Galleries, prides itself on offering to both wholesale and retail customers a startling array of unique Indonesian handcrafts and folk art. The Galeri is notable for its attractive and unique display, large doors, broad windows and fish pond in front.
Once inside Tegun Galeri, the knowledgeable staff are close at hand, available to field questions and handle specials requests while, at the same time, letting each shoppers explore the store at this or her own pace. This relaxing, "laid back" environment is a big asset to shoppers, and contrasts with the more hectic atmosphere in other stores on the island.
Meghan and Kadek, the owners of Tegun Galeri, travel constantly to distant corners of Indonesia and across South East and East Asia, in search of unusual and beautiful pieces of folk art. While selling some authentic antiques, Meghan and Kadek prefer to sell original folk art reproductions. By doing so, Tegun ensures a sustainable business model for its large artisan base.
Tegun's biggest impact is on its inherent linkages to the larger community: The great majority of pieces for sale in the shop are made in "cottage industries" or private homes, and items purchased at Tegun directly benefit Indonesian crafts workers and artisans from across the archipelago. Moreover, many merchandise lines offered at Tegun are designed by crafts workers in consultation with Meghan and Kadek, and produced in small workshops isolated from mass tourism. Since many areas of Indonesia are politically or socially unstable, and thus avoided by international visitors, Tegun offers an economic lifeline for the residents of these regions, enabling them to bring their works to a much larger audience. As a result, Tegun's sales often provide a major income stream to isolated artists and their families.