Megawati hires sculptures from Bali woodcarver, value estimated at Rp 2 billion

File photo of Megawati Soekarnoputri. Photo: Wikimedia Commons
File photo of Megawati Soekarnoputri. Photo: Wikimedia Commons

PDIP Chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri is apparently injecting quite the amount of cash into the Bali economy after commissioning three elaborate sculptures from a Balinese woodcarver with an estimated value of Rp 2 billion.

The former president ordered the statues with different themes, among them, three epic tales: Ramayana,  Baratayuda, and Bebondresan, says Gianyar woodcarver, I Ketut Moderen.

“These three sculptures are special orders from Megawati. I have been working on them for the past seven months. I have been assisted by 20 people,” Moderen said in Gianyar on Thursday, as quoted by Detik.

Megawati selected the wood used for the sculptures and the themes herself, Moderen said.

“The quality of the wood is very good.”

The statues are at 60 percent completion and some parts Moderen must do totally by himself to keep his style and craft, according to the artisan.

Fine details like faces are done by Moderen himself, but he can get help with engraving and buffing, he said.

While Moderen apparently did not want to put a precise number on his work, he said it’s probably around Rp 2 billion.




BECOME A COCO+ MEMBER

Support local news and join a community of like-minded
“Coconauts” across Southeast Asia and Hong Kong.

Join Now
Coconuts TV
Our latest and greatest original videos
YouTube video
Subscribe on