Wayang Kertas

This exhibit feature paper puppets made from laser-cut patterns inspired by Malayan and Malaysian wayang kulit collections in The British Museum, The Pitt Rivers Museum, and the Yale Peabody Museum. Traditionally, Kelantanese shadow puppets “turun”- meaning that most are descendants from extant puppets. A master puppet maker would take a puppet and trace its outline on a piece of goat hide or cow hide. The outline of the puppet would remain relatively constant while the details of the shadow and coloring often change with each new generation of the puppet. This exhibit was developed to give old shadow puppets a new life and to help introduce younger Malaysians to traditional puppet designs held in museums in the United Kingdom and the United States. Wayang Kertas highlights the intricacy of traditional shadow puppetry design while emphasizing the importance of overseas museum collections for the research and the revitalization of wayang kulit Kelantan.

The reference photos for the wayang kulit Kelantan puppets used in the development of the laser cut paper puppets can be found in the Pitt Rivers Museum, The British Museum, and The Yale Peabody Museum collections. Please click on the links below
for more details.
 

1. Maharaja Seri Rama “Shadow Puppet of Figure Standing on a Dragon” | The Pitt Rivers Museum
2. Siti Dewi “Shadow Puppet of Figure Standing on a Dragon” | The Pitt Rivers Museum
3. Maharaja Rawana “Shadow Puppet of Ravana” | The British Museum
4. Jentayu | The British Museum
5. Composite animal shadow puppet (elephant, bird, and buffalo) | The British Museum
6. Bota Maharaja | The British Museum
7. Hanuman | The British Museum
8. Puteri Ikan | Yale Peabody Museum
9. Dewa Panah- Right Hand | The British Museum
10. Dewa Panah- Left Hand | The British Museum
11. Pohon Beringin | The British Museum
12. Siti Dewi | The British Museum