Tabanan's Catur Muka Statue to Be Revitalised and Enlarged

The Catur Muka statue, a landmark in the Jalan Gajah Mada area of Tabanan City, is slated for revitalisation. The statue was dismantled using heavy machinery on Sunday (12/7/2026). Observations at the site on Monday (13/7/2026) showed the area fenced off with zinc barriers, heavy equipment on standby, and workers clearing the remaining debris.

I Made Suwardika, the Bendesa Adat of Tabanan City, explained that the plan to revitalise the statue to enhance the city’s aesthetics was initially proposed to Tabanan Regent I Komang Gede Sanjaya. The proposal coincided with the Tabanan Regency Government’s ongoing revitalisation of the Jalan Gajah Mada area. The initiative was approved, and the execution was handed over to the Public Works and Spatial Planning Agency (PUPR) of Tabanan.

Suwardika noted that the Catur Muka statue was originally built in the 1980s. Over the decades, it has undergone several updates, including repainting and the application of gold leaf, but its dimensions have never been altered. The surrounding environment has changed significantly since the statue’s construction. Previously, the shop buildings along Jalan Gajah Mada were relatively low, making the statue appear grand and a focal point. Now, multi-storey buildings have made the statue look comparatively small.

As part of the revitalisation, the statue will be enlarged to approximately three metres in width and six metres in height, or adjusted as needed on site. The aim is to make the statue taller and larger so it harmonises with the surrounding buildings and improves the aesthetics of the Jalan Gajah Mada area. Suwardika stressed that the revitalisation will not alter the form or the traditional principles of the Dewa Brahma statue. The larger size is intended to make it more proportional to the current conditions of the area.

The technical execution, including budget preparation and the appointment of a sculptor, falls under the authority of the Tabanan PUPR Agency. If all stages proceed according to plan, the revitalisation is targeted for completion in time for the Singasana City anniversary celebrations, estimated to take about four months. Suwardika acknowledged that the revitalisation plan has generated both support and opposition within the community. However, he believes that any change must be understood based on its clear purpose and objectives, which are to adapt the city’s icon to the area’s development without erasing its existing values and traditional principles.