Wayang kulit is a traditional Indonesian art which mainly developed in Java. Wayang comes from the word 'Ma Hyang' which means to go to a spiritual spirit, a deity, or God Almighty. There are also those who interpret wayang as a Javanese term meaning 'shadow', this is because the audience can also watch the puppet from behind the color or only its shadow. Wayang kulit is played by a puppeteer who is also the narrator of the dialogue of wayang figures, accompanied by gamelan music played by a group of nayaga and song sung by pesinden. The puppeteer plays shadow puppets behind the screen, the screen is made of white cloth, while behind it is highlighted an electric lamp or oil lamp (blencong), so that viewers who are on the other side of the screen can see the shadow puppets that fall into the color. To be able to understand wayang (play) stories, the audience must have knowledge of puppet characters whose shadows appear on the screen.
In general, wayang takes stories from the Mahabharata and Ramayana manuscripts, but it is not limited to the standard (standard), the puppeteer can also play the carangan (composition) play. Some stories are taken from the Panji story.
The shadow puppet show was recognized by UNESCO on November 7, 2003, as an amazing cultural work in the field of narrative stories and beautiful and precious heritage (Masterpiece of Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity). Wayang kulit is more popular in central and eastern Java, while wayang golek is more often played in West Java.
Wayang kulit is made from cowhide leather which has been processed into sheet leather, puppet pieces need about 50 x 30 cm size of sheet skin which is then carved with the equipment used is sharp-pointed iron made from good quality steel. Iron steel is made in advance in various shapes and sizes, there are pointed, flat, small, large and other shapes, each of which has different functions.
But basically, to organize or make various forms of carved holes that are intentionally made into holes. Next do the installation of body parts such as hands, on the hands there are two connections, upper arms and elbows, how to connect it with a small screw made of buffalo horn or cow. The stalk whose function is to move the blackish arm is also made from buffalo horn and its golden color is generally made using prada, which is a gold colored paper that is attached or can also be painted, painted with melted powder. Puppets that use prada, the results are much better, the color can last longer than the bront.
The puppeteer is the most important part in the puppet show (wayang purwa). In the terminology of Javanese language, dalang (halang) comes from the acronym ngudhal Piwulang. Ngudhal means to dismantle or spread and piwulang means teaching, education, science, information. So the existence of a puppeteer in a shadow puppet show is not only in the aspect of spectacle (entertainment) alone, but also guidance. Therefore, besides mastering the technique of puppetry as an entertainment aspect, the mastermind must be someone who is knowledgeable and able to give a good influence on the game.
Puppeteers who reached the peak of glory and legend include the late Ki Tristuti Rachmadi (Solo), the late Ki Narto Sabdo (Semarang, Solo style), the late Ki Surono (Banjarnegara, Banyumas style), the late Ki Timbul Hadi Prayitno (Yogya) , the late Ki Hadi Sugito (Kulonprogo, Jogjakarta), Ki Soeparman (Yogya style), Ki Anom Suroto (Solo style), Ki Manteb Sudarsono (Solo style), Ki Enthus Susmono, Ki Agus Wiranto, deceased Ki Suleman (East Java style) , the late Ki Sugino Siswocarito (Banyumas style). While the legendary pesinden is the late Nyi Tjondrolukito.
Tags:
Culture and Art