On November 7, 2003, the United National Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) designated the Indonesian shadow puppet theatre wayang as a “Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity”.
Itincludes the flat leather shadow puppet (wayang kulit), the flat wooden puppet (wayang klitik), and the three-dimensional wooden puppet (wayang golek).
While the designation encouraged Indonesians to preserve the tradition, the same has not happened in other Southeast Asian countries where the shadow play is sadly in decline.
In Singapore, for instance, there are only a few remaining performing arts companies that perform wayang kulit.
“It is now difficult to find people to make the materials,” said Adel Ahmad, who runs Sri Warisan Som Said Performing Arts in Singapore.
The son of the Malay dancer and Cultural Medallion recipient Som Said who started the company in 1997, he added that it is now also hard to find performers willing to commit to the long and arduous training.
Early popularity
Shadow puppetry was once popular throughout Asia. In Thailand, shadow plays date back to the 13th century during the Sukhothai Era.
According to Shada, a retired university professor, “Throughout the Rattanokosin Dynasty, Nang Yai shadow plays were one of the most popular forms of entertainment.
King Rama II was very fond of it, and these plays were popular throughout the mid-18th century. When a fire in the national theater destroyed most of the puppets, there was a wane in popularity.
A few decades later, during the rule of King Chulalongkorn, Nang Yai performances had a revival but were no longer as popular,” she said.
“During King Chulalongkorn’s reign, Nang Yai performances continued in Singburi and in Wat Khanon in Ratchaburi where a unique collection of puppets is housed.
In 1989, Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn decreed that the original puppets be conserved and replacements be made at Silpakorn University for use in the theater.
Six years later, the replacements were presented to the Princess at the national theater and the originals went on permanent display at Wat Khanon.”
For the preservation of the museum and its temple grounds, Wat Khanon has been awarded a UNESCO cultural award and a Kinaree award.
Another lesser-known, but significant, museum can be found inside Wat Sawang Arom in Mueang Sing Buri, Sing Buri province.
The museum houses one of the largest collections of Nang Yai in Thailand. There are nearly 300 leather puppets at the museum, used for several Ramayana episodes.
The museum is important evidence of Nang Yai’s close relationship with Buddhist temples both in the past and in the present.
Traditional shadow puppetry involves distinctive puppets that are artworks in themselves. The performance includes an orchestra using bronze musical instruments.
It is one of the great art forms that combine ancient stories, mystical mantras, and topical commentary.
The tradition involves acting, singing, drama, literature, painting, sculpture, carving, and other symbolic arts.
Apart from being a form of entertainment, it is also used as a medium for information, preaching, education, and understanding.
Modern challenges
“Recently, the preservation of shadow puppet traditions is being challenged by the rise of modern forms of entertainment and Western influences,” said Missy, a Fine Arts student.
She added that while efforts are being made to ensure that performances continue in modern times, traditional art forms like shadow plays are at risk of being forgotten.
Missy said that promoting the tradition, not only in Indonesia where it originated but also internationally, is important.
“It should be exposed to a wider audience, to allow people from different backgrounds to experience its magic and beauty,” she suggested.
In the Philippines, the art of shadow puppetry started in 1879. Called carillo and featuring Spanish comedy tales, it has developed extensively over the last decades through collaborations with other groups in the region.
The art form adopted a modern take when a Filipino group called El Gamma Penumbra showcased a modern version of the shadow play in the reality show “Asia’s Got Talent: in 2015.
“El Gamma Penumbra was first founded in 2008 as a hip-hop dance group,” revealed one of the members.
Before joining, the group decided to change their act into a shadow play to stand out among the many hip-hop dance group participants.
The group was eventually named the first grand winner of “Asia’s Got Talent” held in Singapore in 2015.
During one of their performances, one of the show’s hosts, Canadian musician and record producer David Foster, said: ‘I just want to say that I live in a box, where I make music in a studio.
“And tonight, I got to come outside of my box and see something that was so, so moving and magical. It just amazed me.”
Captivating and inspiring
Shadow plays represent a tradition that has captivated audiences for centuries, shaped societies, taught moral values, reflected social issues, and fostered unity.
“As we continue to preserve and promote this art form, it will also continue to move and inspire audiences around the world,” said Vera, a shadow play advocate and leader of a theater group.
This story is part of a series of articles about the vanishing cultural traditions in Southeast Asia.
By Veena Thoopkrajae with an additional report by Oz Hersa
