![]() ![]() Wewayangan puppets are about human characters – interacting between human, God’s premises, and the Creator Himself. ![]() The word Wayang is derived from the word ‘wewayangan’ which means shadow or depiction. An affirmation of the twin elements that co-exist in this universe: day and night, male – female, black – white, good – evil. All of the puppet elements, from the puppeteer to color and decoration system is a graceful lesson on goodness.Ī wayang show is a guidance on a righteous life and there is no “grey”, only contrasts: right or wrong, good or bad, reward or punishment, and so on. The performance is based on philosophy of life and imparts noble message and teachings. A puppet show showcases the local genius and the poetry and wisdom of our ancestors.Ī number of artistes are required to create a puppet and in a sense this embodies the unity of aesthetic values, ethics and philosophy. The typical form of puppets, featuring the visual art and craft art has to be very aesthetically precise. Wayang is a traditional art form that has flourished through the ages with some modifications through time. Various forms of puppets are found not only in Java, but also in South Sumatra, South Kalimantan, Bali and Lombok. This spirit is evidence that the shadow puppet is not going to disappear because it is still loved by so many people. Leather shadow puppet shows in Central Java, such as in Yokyakarta, East Java and Jakarta (or shadow puppet shows in West Java) or in any other Java regions, are always flooded with large number of spectators. However, shadow puppetry and other Wayang remain popular. Modernization and invasion of Western culture through television and any other medias has made young Indonesian generation is more familiar with the western culture than their own, and the younger generation in Indonesia’s major cities such as Jakarta, Bandung, Semarang and Surabaya are no longer familiar with wayang. UNESCO recognized wayang on November 7th 2003, as World Master Piece of Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity. This art form has a very long history and continues to evolve such that Wayang is no longer just a medium for worship of (pre-Hindu), a magical-religious and education (Hindu-Buddhist era), but has now developed into a medium of revelation, preaching, education, understanding of philosophy, as well as entertainment (Islamic era until present). The process of making Wayang and the subsequent performance includes acting, singing, music, speech, literary, painting, sculpturing, chiseling, carving, and painting. In the below clip, the wayang kulit features an appearance by none other than Barack Obama who, of course, spent part of his childhood in Indonesia.Wayang or shadow puppets are inseparable from Indonesian culture. Click here to watch part one of this performance, and here for part two. ![]() In 2012, Asia Society presented a wayang kulit performance by Ki Purbo Asmoro. It is one of the great art forms as it combines ancient stories, mystical mantras, and topical commentary. The gamelan orchestra is comprised of between 20 and 40 musicians and is made up of bronze instruments - gongs, metalaphones, strings, and vocals. Javanese shadow puppetry involves distinctive puppets that are art works in themselves. What are some of the distinctive features of a performance that differentiate it from other forms of puppetry? A good dhalang is indeed a celebrity who commands a high fee and can perform in front of audiences as large as 6 or 7,000 people. It is one of the most complete art forms, with everything in the hands of the dhalang. Wayang kulit combines deep spiritual meaning, entertaining storytelling, extraordinary musicality (both in the gamelan and vocals), deep philosophical messages, current political commentary, and bawdy humor. It is usually performed in an eight to nine hour performance that goes all night. Shadow puppetry has been popular in various parts of the world, including China, India, and Turkey, but it has reached an extraordinary level in Java. How popular is Wayang Kulit as an art form today? Has the form had an influence beyond Indonesia? In advance of Asia Society's presentation of wayang kulit on Saturday, we spoke to Rachel Cooper, Asia Society's director of Global Performing Arts and Special Cultural Initiatives, about this unique art form. New York time for a free live video webcast. Can’t make it to this program? Tune in Saturday, May 14, at 8 p.m.
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