Wayang Sukuraga

In addition to traditional wayang, the 2nd Gunungan International Mask & Puppets Festival (see my posts two days ago) also featured several new creation puppet theaters like this one: Wayang Sukuraga.

Wayang Sukuraga (literally puppets or puppet show of body parts) is different from the traditional wayang theater in that its characters are body part skin puppets. The stories and music are also different from those of the traditional wayang. While the traditional wayang theater performances usually tell stories derived from the epics of Ramayana and Mahabharata and their local variations, the Wayang Sukuraga tells stories that are specifically created for it. Also, unlike the traditional wayang performances, which are usually accompanied by Gamelan ensemble, the Wayang Sukuraga performances can be accopanied by any kinds of music, traditional or modern.

Wayang Sukuraga was created about seventeen years ago by Afendy (nick-named Fendy Sukuraga), an artist and painter from Sukabumi, West Java.

Depicted in the above picture is Gunungan of Wayang Sukuraga displayed at the exhibition hall.

Wayang Sukuraga adalah wayang kreasi baru yang tokoh-tokohnya terdiri dari anggota-anggota badan. Wayang ini diciptakan oleh Afendi alias Fendy Sukuraga, seorang seniman asal Sukabumi, Jawa Barat, pada sekitar tahun 1996.

Wewed Masks

Some of the mask collection exhibited by Wewed, an Indramayu-based mask artisan that specializes in crafting local traditional masks, at Gunungan International Mask & Puppet Festival held recently at Kotabaru Parahyangan in the west of Bandung.

This year's Gunungan International Mask & Puppets Festival is the second of what is planned to be a regular annual event that celebrates Indonesia's rich and diverse wayang (puppet) and mask traditions in the context of similar traditions worldwide.

Sebagian koleksi Topeng Wewed yang dipamerkan dalam Festival Topeng dan Wayang Internasional Gunungan di Kotabaru Parahyangan, Kabupaten Bandung Barat, baru-baru ini. Wewed adalah seorang seniman topeng yang berasal dari Indramayu, Jawa Barat.

Wayang Golek

The term “Wayang golek” refers both to the or the traditional Sundanese (West Javanese) wooden puppets and the show with this kind of puppets. Unlike any other wayang puppets in other parts of Indonesia which are made of goat skin and are performed as a behind-the-screen shadow show, “wayang golek” is made of wood and is performed without the screen.

The word “wayang” may have come from the words “Wa” and “Hyang” (which together mean ancestors) or “bayang” (shadow).

“Wayang golek” show is performed by a puppeteer called “dalang” with an ensemble of “gamelan” music. The show is usually performed in the evening and typically lasts for about six hours. Originally, “wayang golek” used to be performed only at thanksgiving, harvest parties, and ceremonies to ask for God’s protection from evil spirits. Now it is also performed at wedding receptions, circumscision ceremony, company’s unniversaries, and other social functions.

The stories at “wayang golek” performance are typically dirived from the Hindu-Indian epics of Ramayana and Mahabarata. However, they have been adapted to the local Sundanese Moslem wisdom and values.

The photo above are four of “wayang golek” characters. I took this photo at the Kemilau Nusantara fest (see yesterday’s post).