Mail MeYogyakarta, a city rich in Javanese culture, is also home to one of Indonesia’s most iconic performing arts heritages: Wayang Kulit. Behind the beauty of a wayang performance, there is a manufacturing process that is full of art and skill. Let’s explore more deeply the process of making shadow puppets in Yogyakarta.
The main material for making shadow puppets is buffalo skin. This leather was chosen because it has a strong and flexible texture, making it suitable for carving and dyeing. Quality buffalo leather will produce shadow puppets with sharp details and long-lasting colors.
Making process
Leather Tanning:
Raw buffalo hide is processed through a tanning process to remove hair, fat and dirt. This process aims to make the leather more durable and easier to work with.
Drying : After tanning, the skin is dried in the sun or aired. This drying process is very important to get skin that is flat and does not bend easily.
Cutting The dried skin is then cut into pieces according to the size of the shadow puppets to be made.
Smoothing : The surface of the leather piece is smoothed using a stone or sandpaper to make it easier to carve.
Engraving : This is the most complicated stage and requires high expertise. Craftsmen will carve every detail of the wayang using carving tools made of iron. Starting from the face, body, to complicated ornaments.
Coloring : Once carved, the shadow puppets are then colored using natural or synthetic paint. The colors used usually have symbolic meaning in Javanese culture.
Drying : Puppets that have been colored are dried in the sun again to dry the paint.
Finishing : The final stage is finishing, which is the process of coating the puppet with a special material so that the color becomes shinier and lasts longer.
Shadow Puppets Craft Center in Yogyakarta
Several areas in Yogyakarta are famous as centers for shadow puppet crafts, including:
Yogyakarta Palace area, this village is a popular destination for tourists who want to see the process of making shadow puppets firsthand.
Wukirsari Village: This village also has many shadow puppets craftsmen who produce high quality works.
Challenges and Conservation
Even though it has a long history, the shadow puppet craft currently faces several challenges, such as competition with modern products and a lack of interest from the younger generation. To preserve this cultural heritage, joint efforts are needed from various parties, from the government, craftsmen, to the community. Making shadow puppets is a long and artistic process. Each puppet produced is a handiwork that has high aesthetic and philosophical value. By understanding the manufacturing process, we will increasingly appreciate the beauty and cultural richness contained in it
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