After 28 years finally the statue of Garuda Wisnu Kencana was completed

Yes, after 28 years, the masterpiece of the Garuda Wisnu Kencana (GWK) statue was finally completed. As a new icon of tourism in Bali, the long journey from the building process of the statue finally sweetened with its inauguration marked by the presentation of an art performance named "Swadharma Ning Pertiwi," in the area of ​​Garuda Wisnu Kencana Cultural Park, Bukit Ungasan, South Kuta, Badung Regency, Bali, at Saturday, August 4, 2018.

Garuda Wisnu Kencana statue. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/2MXVeQP)

The GWK is one of the great masterpieces of Balinese art and culture. When it's still in the development stage, there's so many tourists have come to see it. Therefore, to GWK inauguration event, they made an art performance called Swadharma Ning Pertiwi which involved a line of famous Balinese artists. There were singers Dira Sugandi and Ayu Laksmi, dancers I Ketut Rina and Keni K Soeriaatmadja, as well as choreographer Eko Supriyanto.

The event titled 'Swadharma Ning Pertiwi', was held in order to welcome the completion of the construction of the GWK statue on Saturday, August 8,2018. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/2BqXsXz)

"This is a form of appreciation to 120 artists who have been diligent, patient, and always work hard to compile the statue piece by piece, from day to day. Most of them have worked for 28 years," said the initiator and creator of Garuda Wisnu Kencana statue, Nyoman Nuarta on the GWK statue inauguration ceremony.

The idea of the GWK statue making since 1989 

GWK is deliberately built to be a tourism landmark of Bali. The idea emerged in 1989, but the concept began in 1990, involving the Minister of Tourism at the time, Joop Ave (late), then Ida Bagus Oka (late), Ida Bagus Sudjana (late), and artist Nyoman Nuarta.

The initiator of the Garuda Wisnu Kencana (GWK) statue, Nyoman Nuarta took a photo with the background of the GWK Statue in Ungasan, Badung, Bali, Tuesday, July 7, 2018. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/2L6DlOd)

After obtaining the blessing of President Soeharto in 1993, the artists then conducted socialization in front of members, the leaders of Bali Regional Representative Council, Balinese community leaders and the communities around the GWK location will be built. At the time of the dissemination of the socialization, there was a pro-contra, but the groundbreaking pedestal of GWK statue was successfully implemented in 1997.

Although, the land processing has been carried out around Bukit Ungasan, Jimbaran since 1994-1996, to become what it is today. In its journey, the construction of the GWK statue did indeed experience ups and downs, even when the monetary crisis struck in 1998, Nyoman Nuarta, who at the time had 82 percent of the shares could no longer afford to maintain his ownership. And in 2012, he had to be willing to PT. Alam Sutra Realty Tbk to acquire GWK shares. However, he remains committed to completing the construction of the GWK statue.

The 2nd highest statue in the world 

After completion, the GWK statue turned out has a 121 meters tall with weighing up to 3,000 tons. With its height, it means the GWK statue is higher than the Statue of Liberty in New York, which has only 93 meters high.

After 28 years finally the statue of Garuda Wisnu Kencana was completed. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/2MmOBLV)

But the statue of GWK is still inferior to the tallest statue in the world, namely Spring Temple Buddha in China, which reaches 153 meters high. Thus, the statue of GWK became the second highest statue in the world.

Physically, the statue of GWK becomes a copper sculpture with the largest cast welding technique in the world. These statue of GWK is the first largest statue to be built with a piece by piece welding system. Because statues like Liberty in New York are generally done with metal cast techniques.

"In simple terms, the scaling of the sculpture is done by cast welding techniques and I have patented this," said Nyoman Nuarta.

A form of proving Indonesia's ability to the world 

Indonesia does have many heritage buildings that are known to all over the world, such as the Borobudur Temple. But with the success of the GWK statue built, it becomes a new proof that developing countries like Indonesia can build masterpieces for the world.

Rangkaian Peresmian Patung Garuda Wisnu Kencana (GWK), "Swadharma Ning Pertiwi",
04 Agustus 2018 bertempat di GWK Culture Park, Bali. Syukuran ini merupakan salah satu rangkaian ke giatan peresmian patung GWK akan datang.#GWKwonderfulindonesia #WonderfulIdonesi pic.twitter.com/JLD5pUUI4g

— KEMENPAR RI (@Kemenpar_RI) August 4, 2018

"GWK will be proof that we are sovereign in the field of culture and we hope that the world cultural orientation will occur at the GWK Cultural Park because there are not only the statues, but also world cultural forums," said Nyoman Nuarta further.

The following is a video of Nyoman Nuarta, Maestro Garuda Wisnu Kencana statue:

According to the target, this nation's GWK sculpture was completed in August 2018 as one of the best offerings of this nation's children during Indonesia's 73rd independence celebration. Although the statue has been completed, but the surrounding area as a cultural park will continue to be built and developed. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | ASUMSI | TRIBUN NEWS]

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