Wayang Puppets: Explore Collections: Windows to the World: Digital Artifacts for Global Educators: Indiana University Bloomington

Home
Explore Collections
Wayang Puppets

Wayang Puppets

This is a set of wooden puppets from Inodnesia, made between 1920 and 1970. Indonesia has a rich history of puppetry, spanning from the 9th century to the modern day. In particular, Wayang, classical Javanese puppetry, is one of the most well-known forms of Indonesian puppetry. While there are several types of Wayang, the two most popular are Wayang Kulit (shadow puppets, shown to the right) and Wayang Golek (rod puppets, shown below).

Wayang puppetry still enjoys great popularity today. Performances often take place at special events such as weddings, religious ceremonies, or cultural days. They usually begin at 9:30 pm and last until 4:30 am. While it was traditionally a form of cultivated, high-brow literature, modern Wayang puppetry has sacrificed some traditional features to compete with modern leisure and entertainment. A modern performance may highlight comic scenes rather than an a classic plot, or replace traditional musical accompaniment with pop music.

Wayang Kulit (Shadow Puppet). Unrecorded maker, Indonesian, date unrecorded. Leather and wood, 24 in. (L) × 10.5 in. (W). Hilda Jay, donor, IU Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, 2006-04-0026.

Wayang Kulit (Shadow puppets)
Wayang means puppets, and Kulit refers to ‘leather’ of which most shadow puppets are made. Wayang Kulit is thought to date back to before the 10th century. Shadow puppets are flat figures where the head and body are cut in one piece, arms are articulated at the shoulder, and elbows are disproportionately long. They have a bent piece of bamboo or buffalo horn that works as a support that is held in hand.

Wayang Golek (Rod puppets)

Wayang Golek (Rod Puppet). Unrecorded Sudanese maker, Java, Indonesia, mid-20th century. Cloth and wood. Carl Wirth, donor, IU Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, 1966-27-0046.

Wayang Golek is thought to date back to at least the 16th century, followed by the development of Wayang Kulit. Golek means ‘rod’ which the puppets are operated by. Rod puppets are three-dimensional wooden figures operated by rods. The head of the puppet is the most important and sophisticated part.

Dalang (Puppeteer/puppet master)
The dalang organizes the entire crew who is regarded as a master musician, storyteller, comic wonder, philosopher, and cultivated literary expert at the same time. Through the words and actions of comic characters, they criticize sensitive political and social issues. The performance techniques and repertory have been transmitted and passed down orally through puppeteer families, musicians, and puppet-makers. Dalangs are expected to memorize a vast repertory of stories and recite narrative passages and songs.
In a Wayang Kulit play, the dalang sits behind a screen to manipulate the puppets and create shadows on the other side of the screen. The audience can watch the performance on either side of the screen. While most connoisseurs watch on the side where shadows are cast on the screen, some sit behind the dalang. In a Wayang Golek play, the puppeteer sits in front of a screen. The central rod tapers to the bottom and is jammed into the log that runs along the base of the stage. With the rods jammed into the base log, the dalang is able to stock characters on either side until they appear on stage or project many figures on stage.

Wayang Puppets Activity Guide

Resources

Resource 1

Wayang Shadow Puppets- Google Arts and Culture

Google Arts and Culture has collected a variety of resources about Wayang shadow puppets (Wayang Kulit). Click the link to learn about its structure, history, and global influence.

Resource 2

Wayang Puppet Theater- UNESCO

The changing economic structure of Indonesia has led to a decreased interest and demand for Wayang performances. Recognizing the rich history and cultural significance of the Wayang puppet theatre, UNESCO proclaimed the Wayang Puppet Theater a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity in 2003 in order the safeguard the culture. Moreover, it also has been inscribed on the Representative List of the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2008.

Resource 3

Richard Teschner- World Encyclopedia of Puppetry Arts

Wayang puppetry – Wayang Golek in particular – influenced European puppetry through the works of Richard Teschner, an Austrian puppeteer in the early 20th century. In 1911, he visited museums in Holland where he saw Javanese puppets. He was so impressed by the Wayang that he began to stage similar productions in his own Viennese puppet theater in 1912. He pioneered a fusion of the artistic simplicity of Wayang puppetry and the Germanic technical excellence from his own Viennese work.

Wayang Puppets

Resource 1

Resource 2

Resource 3

Windows to the World: Digital Artifacts for Global Educators social media channels