UNESCO is funding around 15 Palembang
From The Jakarta Post
From The Jakarta Post
The United Nations’ cultural organisation is
working with Palembang puppeteers to save their art and bring it
to a global audience.
Two researchers from UNESCO, Karen Smith of
Australia and Yuji Shimizu of Japan, were recently in the South
Sumatra city to visit puppet theaters and document Palembang’s
rich culture, including puppet shows.
The results of the visit are scheduled to be
displayed from April to June in Paris.
"The pictures and writings we get while we’re in
Palembang will be presented to the world, taking Palembang’s
puppet tradition international", Shimizu said.
During the trip, the two researchers visited the
Sri Wayang Palembang theater, accompanied by Sumari, chairman of
the Senawangi Foundation for puppetry and Eko Cipto, chairman of
the Indonesian Puppet Masters Association.
Shimizu said they were interested in doing
research on Palembang puppetry because it was such a rich
cultural tradition that should be preserved.
"There is more to a puppet performance, there
are so many things to learn from it", said the Japanese
researcher, who lives in Paris.
Smith raised her concerns over problems faced by
Palembang puppet shows, including a lack of teachers and
singers.
"The Palembang puppet show is in desperate need
of attention from the government and people. I’ll deliver our
report to UNESCO to ensure continued assistance for its
development", she said.
During their visit to the puppet theater, the
researchers were regaled with a show by puppet master Wirawan
Rusdi, a son of one of Palembang’s most noted puppet masters,
the late Rusdi Rasyid.
Wirawan said he was grateful for UNESCO’s
assistance, since it offered a fresh chance for the struggling
traditional art form.
He said he fell in love with puppet shows as a
child. While his father did not specifically train him, he said
recordings of his father’s shows continued to provide
inspiration.
Eko said he welcomed UNESCO’s assistance to
ensure that Palembang’s puppet tradition continued to survive.
He said few younger people were interested in becoming puppet
masters.
"Currently, there are 15 theaters under the
supervision of UNESCO", he said. Each theater receives financial
assistance of Rp 500,000 (US$54) a month to help them survive.
Basically, Palembang puppet shows differ little
from the more popular Javanese variety, including their gamelan
instruments.
According to Ki Agus Amiruddin, the 65-year-old
leader of the Sri Wayang Palembang theater, Palembang puppetry
is a local adaptation of Javanese puppet shows.
The tradition is thought to have developed
around the 19th century when Arya Damar, who was influenced by
Javanese culture, ruled Palembang and helped develop a local
puppetry tradition.
Just like Javanese puppet shows, Palembang
puppet shows take their storylines from the epics Mahabharata
and Ramayana.
The difference is that the shows are staged in
the Palembang language and there are no strict rules on
instruments and characters. The shows are usually given local
touches, including stories about the Blambangan and Banter Angin
kingdoms.
"There was even a green Hanoman who was born out
of leaves, but now the character has gone", said Ki Agus,
referring to a hero from the Ramayana.