At the Museum Puri Lukisan in Ubud Indonesia (+59/ 975136) they offer a 2-day course in which you will learn the function of the puppets and you will make a puppet yourself. If you want the full experience you can also make a shadow puppet yourself. Expect to pay around Rp500.000 for a good quality puppet (medium size) made out of genuine goat or buffalo leather. He is also willing to explain more about the process of making this Balinese craft. Usually, he has a large selection of puppets displayed. If you want to buy a puppet, the best thing you can do is to visit the workshop of a puppet maker. Purchasing or experiencing more of the Wayang Kulit They travel through Bali to perform their skills. Sukawati is the village known for its best puppet makers and masters. The puppet is red which symbolizes uncontrolled passion.Įither way, when buying a puppet the only thing that counts is that you choose one you think is the most beautiful or funny… Rawana, the evil one is large, hairy and has bulging eyes. This indicates modesty, refinement, and beauty. The colorings also reflect the type of character and role of each puppet.įor instance, in the Ramayana epic, the noble Rama is green because he is considered to be the incarnation of Wisnu, the god of life and preservation. Consequently, it must be decorated as beautifully as possible. However, the Balinese consider each puppet to have a soul. You won’t see the colours during the show. When you walk around the shops, market or workshops and you see all the shadow puppets you might wonder why they are so beautifully painted. The Dalang is considered a priest, as he can speak Kawi and despite the simplicity of the show, it is actually amazing how one person can create such a magical spectacle Colorful puppets Through repetition, they immediately know how the stories go and which puppet represents who. Many have learned it by heart by watching the puppet performances since childhood. Kawi is a language that the Balinese people don’t speak but know. They translate the vocals sang by the Dalang which is important as the puppets can only be expressed through the ancient Sanskrit language ‘Kawi’. These puppets can be easily distinguished from the other main characters as they are always big-bellied and look funny, while the other puppets are more graceful.Īdditionally, the servants can actually move their jaws. Other important characters are the servants. The oil lamp and the Dalang give life to the puppetsĪdditionally the Kayonan is always present during important acts, in the form of fire, water or wind creating a mystical and turbulent touch. It appears in the beginning and at the end of the show. Another prominent puppet in the show is the Kayonan, the tree of life. Always in balance, like many aspects of the Hindu religion. The good guys always stand on the right of the screen, while the bad guys stand on the opposite. The Alus always has a fine character and is sensitive, while the Kasar is more vulgar and aggressive. There are two groups of puppets that represent good and evil. Two puppets at a workshop: Rama and Sita are now ready to performĭuring the show, the Dalang can choose from around 60 different types of puppets who all have their own character and soul. Usually, it displays the famous Hindu epic stories of Ramayana and Mahabharata. Together with his traditional Gamelan orchestra and his assistance, the Dalang is able to create a magnificent show. Only when he is able to perform these skills will he receive the reputation of an excellent puppet master… A Dalang has undergone intense training before he is allowed to perform at a shadow puppet theatre as he must know all the stories like no other.Īdditionally, he must be able to give his own creative touch to the stories through humor, playfulness, and mysticism. The master who gives the puppets their character and voice is called the Dalang. Once attached to bamboo sticks and placed between the white screen and oil lamp, the puppets become alive… The master of the puppets The puppets are made out of goatskin leather and their details are securely cut and punched in order to create a clear expression in their silhouettes. Hand-crafted leather puppets made from leather material ‘Wayang’ means puppet while ‘Kulit’ means skin in Indonesian. Today it is still particularly popular in Java and Bali. In the past, these traditional puppet shows were the most popular form of entertainment. The Wayang Kulit is mystical two-dimensional shadow puppets that have entertained the people in Indonesia for generations.
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