About Shadow Puppets of Indonesia

Wayang Shadow Puppets

Wayang Kulit (Leather Puppet):

Puppets of the Wayang Kulit shadow play are entirely hand made. The body of the wayang puppets are made of intricately carved and colorfully painted water buffalo leather. The center handle and manipulating rods are carved from the water buffalo horn.

Wayang Kayu (Wooden Puppet) :

These wayang puppets are ornamental Wayang Kayu and are entirely hand made. The bodies of the puppets are made of intricately carved albesla wood painted In soft earth tones. The arms and manipulating rods are fully functional.

Dalang (Puppet Master):

This image shows the wayang puppet Dalang in action. Shadow theaters are orchestrated by the Dalang (puppet master) who manipulates the puppets and creates the speech, accents and sounds according to age and gender of the character. The Dalang is also a composer, improviser, producer, orator, singer, choirmaster, dance master and stage manager.

The Shadow theater performance is accompanied by the unique sounds of the Javanese gamelan orchestra.

This image shows the Dalang in action. Shadow theaters are orchestrated by the Dalang (puppet master) who manipulates the puppets and creates the speech, accents and sounds according to age and gender of the character. The Dalang is also a composer, improviser, producer, orator, singer, choirmaster, dance master and stage manager. The Shadow theater performance is accompanied by the unique sounds of the Javanese gamelan orchestra.