Where:
When:
WHY
Who:
What?!
- Mainly found in southeast Asia and is influenced by neighbouring countries. The Malaysian Kulit is influenced by Indonesia and Thailand
- Many performances are in the city, Kelantan. But rarely in Kuala Lumpur
- UNESCO ( United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization), created a Wayang Kulit theatre, to help keep the tradition and practise alive.
- Elevated stage, 0.5 or 1 metre above the audience, so that the audience are able to see all the action.
- It can be held inside a theatre, or outside to see the night end the morning rise.
When:
- Has been banned on and off since 1990 by the state’s ruling Pan Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) for its “un-islamic elements”
- It is a disappearing art form - practitioners have adapted it chand changed it to ensure its survival
- Traditionally the performances lasted all through the night - these days performances are abbreviated versions
- Originated 250 years ago
- Occurs during religious festivals and important occasions such as birthdays
WHY
- Purpose:
- Cultural context
- How did it work as a part of the community, did it serve a purpose
- Like many other art forms in Malaysia, it was believed to have strong ties to the spirit world. It used to be customary to make food offerings to the spirits during and after a performance, but this practice is now frowned upon.
- Staged during religious festivals and important occasions such as weddings, births and circumcision
- Taken as a entertainment medium but it also served to impact moral values as well as to pass down folklore anf historical tales
- Nowadays the stories are based on local folklore, history and popular comedies → As it was banned by the conservative Islamic Pas government in the state of Kelantan
- The Malay culture is a confluence of cultures, as such thewayang kulit not only depicts scenes from the Hindu epics such as the Ramayana and the Mahabhrata, but also merges Kelantanese folklore with elements from theRamayana.
Who:
- Tok Dalang= puppet master
- a puppet master known as a Tok Dalang sits and controls the handmade colourful puppets behind a white screen
- To become a Tok Dalang or puppet master, it takes many years of skill to handle these puppets with both hands while singing, narrating and tapping the kechrek (rattle) with his leg to signal the musicians.
- The dalang also has to master the change the tone in his voice to suit the various characters played. This includes the evil laughter sounds and also the soothing voices of males and female.
- The Tok Dalang also has to master the numerous stories by heart.
What?!
- Shadow puppets are known as wayang kulit in Malaysia.
- Wayang and kulit translate to puppet and skin.
- These puppets are made from buffalo skin.
- Origins are a mystery although it appears to have a strong Hindu and Javanese influence.
- Shadow puppets performances portray stories from epics as Mahabharata and Ramayana (2 ancient Sanskrit epics). The stories remain the same as the original, although some aspects are modified to have more local context.
- The shadow puppet of the Ramayana in Malaysia is known as Hikayat Maharaja Wana and is considered one of the most important shadow plays.
- In Malaysia the Wayang Kulit kelantan is influenced both Indonesia and nearby Thailand.
- Each puppet is a stylised exaggeration of the human shape, is given a distinctive appearance and has jointed arms.
- Combination of ritual, lesson and entertainment. Lacy shadow images are projected on a taught linen screen with a coconut oil lamp or electric light. The shadow artist manipulates carved leather figures between the lamp and the screen to bring the shadows to life. These performances symbolise Indonesia. Many say that indonesian politics can only be understood in terms of the Wayang Kuilt.
- The puppets are moved behind a cotton or linen screen by a TOK Dalang (puppet master). The TOK dalang tells the story, interprets the characters and voices each character, they produce sound effects and movement. He manipulates the puppet to bring it to life.
- The puppet comes in all sizes ranging from 25 to 75 cm. A basic village set has over a 100 puppets and in a palace approximately 500 puppets. They are made out of buffalo and goat hide and mounted on bamboo stick.