The Jakarta Globe, August 23, 2013.
Denpasar. One of the country’s major property developers has revived a Bandung-based sculptor’s extraordinary ambition to construct a 126-meter-high showpiece that has been mothballed ever since the Asian financial crisis 15 years ago.
“This statue will not only be a major work of art, but also a symbol of pluralism,” said Jean Couteau, a French-born expert on Balinese culture.
Alam Sutera Realty has announced investment of Rp 450 billion ($41.9 million) to continue the development of Garuda Wisnu Kencana (GWK) arts park in Jimbaran, Bali. Two-thirds of that money will be used to resume construction of what will be the world’s second-tallest statue, two meters shorter than the 128-meter Vairocana Buddha in Lushan, China.
The statue will be made from more than 4,000 tons of copper and brass. It will feature a likeness of Hindu god Visnu riding on the back of a Garuda, the Indonesian national symbol.
Harjanto Tirtohadiguno, the president director of Garuda Adrimata Indonesia, which operates GWK cultural park, said that the company had made the investment mindful of Bali’s strength as a tourism destination.
“Rp 300 billion will be used to continue the establishment of the Garuda Wisnu Kencana statue, while the rest is for the supporting infrastructure around the park,” he said at the groundbreaking ceremony at GWK on Friday.
Nuarta, meanwhile, said that the new investment could mean a completed statue within three years.
“Some pieces of the statue will be delivered to Bali from Bandung,” he said. “It takes around 400 trucks.”
The head of the Garuda Wisnu Kencana foundation, Gde Ardika, said that the continuation of the project was an accurate reflection of Balinese heritage commensurate with the resort island’s cultural and commercial tone. Meanwhile, Jean Couteau, a French-born expert on Balinese culture, said that Nuarta’s vision would be viewed by many on the same level as the Eiffel Tower or Statue of Liberty, which is a third of the size of Nuarta’s design.
Alam Sutera acquired an 82 percent stake of Garuda Adhimatra Indonesia for Rp 738 billion in June last year.
Harjanto said the park had plenty of potential as a going concern, given the consistent expansion of Bali’s tourism industry.
To ensure the project did not run into financial difficulties, the park would not escape Indonesia’s love of the retail trail — plans to construct a mall at the park, one of Indonesia’s preeminent arts spaces, were underway, he said.
“We will make sure there is balance between cultural heritage and investment,” he said.
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vr 23 aug 2013 - 21:08