Shadow Puppet

Item number Ib419 from the MOA: University of British Columbia.

Public

Item Records

This page shows all the information we have about this item. Both the institution that physically holds this item, and RRN members have contributed the knowledge on this page. You’re looking at the item record provided by the holding institution. If you scroll further down the page, you’ll see the information from RRN members, and can share your own knowledge too.

The RRN processes the information it receives from each institution to make it more readable and easier to search. If you’re doing in-depth research on this item, be sure to take a look at the Data Source tab to see the information exactly as it was provided by the institution.

These records are easy to share because each has a unique web address. You can copy and paste the location from your browser’s address bar into an email, word document, or chat message to share this item with others.

Data
Data Source

This information was automatically generated from data provided by MOA: University of British Columbia. It has been standardized to aid in finding and grouping information within the RRN. Accuracy and meaning should be verified from the Data Source tab.

Description

Two-dimensional male humanoid figure; large head and jointed arms attached to controlling rods. Body and face in profile; pierced, elaborate designs and features. Red face positioned forward with long straight nose. Red details on face (moustache, eyebrows). Small eyes, beard. Very rough headdress with (?) diadem, wrapped hair, and sumping. Red Garuda. Long black hair (?). Gold neck and body: hands are held with three fingers extended, two touching to thumb. Upper body covered with painted grey pattern (faded and stained), black and red, with band over shoulder (red and black). Yellow, red and black skirt (blue stocking ?). Plain upturned shoes; legs widespread.

History Of Use

Wayang kulit is the predominant theatrical form of eastern and central Java. The art form has its roots in the regional mythology, which was incompletely replaced by the Hinduism of invading Indians. The form has survived since then intact, even through the Islamic conquest, showing no Muslim influence whatsoever. Plays, derived from the Mahabharata and Ramayana cycles of legends, are performed by a dalang (puppet master) on special occasions, in three acts with vocal and instrumental accompaniment. Typically they serve a moral purpose, such as the fight between good and evil. Indra is a god (betara) found in all cycles. He is heir apparent to his father, Siwa, and father to Arjuna.

Iconographic Meaning

Each puppet is characterized by it's wanda, a Javanese word which describes the specific mixture of elements of size, form, colour, ornamentation, and carving. Features and position of face suggest some virtue and refinement; colour does not. Position of hands, colour of skin, and wound headdress indicate nobility. Stance suggests some aggressiveness. Character possibly a representation of Indra (because of headdress).