Dirgantara statue scrubbing completed

Dirgantara statue scrubbing completed

JAKARTA (JP): The cleaning of the gigantic Dirgantara statue,
located at the Pancoran cross-section in South Jakarta, was
completed on Sunday, thanks to the financial support of a local
businessman.

Michael Chandra, whose Beverly Hills cafe on the fifth floor
of the BII building overlooks the 38-meter-high monument, said
funding the Rp 50 (US$ 21,739) project brought him no financial
return but a great sense of pride.

"It's the money well spent taking into consideration the
historical value of the statue," he told The Jakarta Post on
Friday. He pointed out that it is probably the first ever in the
country that the government is cooperating with a private sector
in what he called "a non-profitable cultural field."

Chandra said the idea of taking part in the cleaning project
came one morning when he looked at the statue through his cafe's
window and noticed how dirty it was.

The operation is being undertaken by Chandra in cooperation
with city administration officials, the Indonesian Air Force and
members of the Aryacala nature lover students group of the
Trisakti University.

The statue, which is made of bronze, is polished with
menoxcile, a liquid that makes it shiny, while the curved base
has been polished with a special liquid to prevent moss and fungi
growing on it.

It was built in 1963 by Edhi Sunarso, an artist from
Yogyakarta, on the orders of the country's first president
Sukarno.

According to an unconfirmed report, the late president, known
for his penchant for unique and novel things, sold his private
car to finance the construction of the statue. The monument was
later given to the Air Force.

It represents Gatotkaca, a legendary hero in the Mahabrata
epic who was endowed with an ability to fly, and symbolizes the
strength of the Indonesian Air Force to conquer Dirgantara
(aerospace).

Edi Surya, in charge of the team of 15 cleaners, said the
project is more difficult than other similar projects because of
the curved supporting pillar. (04)