Shadow Puppetry (Wayang Kulit)

Wayang means shadow and kulit means skin (the cow hide used to make the puppets). A performance of wayang kulit involves the audience watching flickering shadows of puppets, illuminated by the light of a hanging oil lamp (damar).

There is a deep philosophy associated with the ancient art of shadow puppetry, because it is believed that the wayang characters and their actions represent the human equivalents. Wayang is an extremely old art, deriving from around the time of the first Hindu kingdoms of India. Consequently, with the spread of Hinduism, it developed into its present form in Java and Bali. Wayang kulit is unlikely to ever become extinct, due to its important function in Hindu ceremonies around Bali (Nyapu Leger).

Traditionally, the puppet shows have been a favourite of a predominantly older generation, however recently many young people have become interested in not only watching, but learning about the art of puppetry and its complicated musical accompaniment called gender wayang (metallophones played with two hands).