By Lindsay Wong
Shadow puppetry has a long history in Southeast Asia as a primary form of storytelling since the ancient ages. Wayang performances are accompanied by a gamelan – an Indonesian music ensemble – in order to tell the full story. Shadow puppetry (wayang kulit) in Indonesia portrays stories about God or morality lessons as well as educate audiences about the differences between good and evil. Wayang kulit plays are common on special occasions like birthdays, anniversaries, and other celebrations.
A complete shadow theater has between 160 to 200 puppets, which are categorized into deities, warriors, ogres, hermits, monkeys, soldiers, princesses, weapons, animals and mountains. Javanese puppets in particular have both arms articulated. The two -dimensional puppets used are made of leather and are elaborately painted, depending on the characters they are depicting. Two bamboo sticks support each puppet so that they can be easily maneuvered from behind a screen of white cotton or unbleached muslin. A light source from behind the screen casts a light over the shadows, illuminating the makeshift stage.
The chief puppeteer called a dalang works to make sure the puppets can most effectively depict the story and touch the hearts of the audience. The dalang is also the narrator of the story and voices the different characters, so he must be skilled at portraying emotions through different voices to match the characters. As such, the dalang is highly respected and admirable as he has the ability to recite many stories and breathe life into the characters in wayang plays. In the background, gamelan drums enhance the viewing experience and add thrill and excitement to the story. Specific music is played during battle scenes, travelling scenes and parades of warriors. Altogether, the different mechanisms at play come together to tell a compelling story.
The origins of wayang have been contested, but most believe the claim that it has originated from South Indian leather-based puppetry called Tholu Bommulata. As India expanded its trade routes, its influence over the arts also expanded. This practice spread between India and the Indonesian islands, along with the Hindu religion. As a result, common stories told through wayang stem from Ramayana and Mahabharata, two great epics from Hindu literature.
Nowadays, apart from wayang kulit, other forms of wayang like wayang topeng (people wearing masks) and wayang gedong (three-dimensional wooden rod puppets) are also popular in theater. In 2008, the Wayang Puppet Theater of Indonesia was inscribed into the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO because of its artistic cultural value. Theaters are popular in Indonesia and attract both local and international audiences. Wayang continues to be a traditional Indonesian form of art that is beloved by all.
Sources:
Cover image from Rietberg
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