Introduction
Indonesian arts and crafts display the exotic
culture and traditions of this South Asian country.
The diversity of the ethnic groups, religion and the
influence of the neighboring countries has resulted
in the extraordinary art and craft forms of
Indonesia. As the traditions and culture of each of
the islands of the archipelago are different the art
and crafts of Indonesia are also varied. The thriving
tourism industries of Indonesia have adequately
used the art and crafts of the country. There is a
growing demand of the art and crafts of Indonesia
in the western world. The art forms of Indonesia are
not limited to handicrafts but performing arts is a
big thing in this country.
The tribal culture and traditions of Indonesia are well reflected in its art forms. The
crafts are versatile and each region has its own form of art displaying the regional culture.
Symbolism is an important part of Indonesian art forms. The ancient beliefs and traditions
still exist in the art forms. Influence of China and India are very much prominent in the art
and crafts of Indonesia. Later Indonesian art and craft was also influences by the Arabs and
the Europeans who visited the islands. The art and crafts were patronized since the ancient
period by the ruler and with the change of dynasties and rule things hardly changed. The
handicrafts range from decorative or ceremonial items to the daily household goods. The
best places to witness the Indonesian art forms are the museums in various places of the
country. Curio shops in the important tourist destinations can be a best place to find the art
and crafts of Indonesia.
The Wayang Kulit and
It’s Puppets
Puppets have been used for centuries in Indonesia to
tell the stories of the ancient epics, the Ramayana and
the Mahabarata, as well as ancient myths. Modern
stories also utilize this ancient art form for
contemporary audiences. Puppets fall into two major
classifications - wayang kulit - the leather or shadow puppet of Central Java, and wayang
golek - wooden puppets of West Java. There are several varieties of wooden puppets. Some
expats enjoy collecting the same character by various artisans, or all the characters in a
scene or story, or just characters that strike their fancy. Good guys, bad guys, gods,
demons, nobles, giants, clowns, princes and princesses and monkeys ... all can be found in
traditional puppet forms.
Less commonly seen is the Wayang Klitik, a flat wooden puppet.
The Wayang Kulit and It’s Puppets
The wayang or shadow puppet is the most
prominent theatrical expressions in Bali. In a
wayang kulit performance, flat cut-out
figures are silhouetted against a translucent,
white screen, with a coconut-husk lamp as
its source of light. It is mostly expressions or
enactments of religious mythology blended
into one with historical facts that will keep a
Balinese entertained all night long.
These wayang figures are manipulated with
rods by the puppeteer or dalang, who tells
the story accompanied by a gamelan
orchestra and occassional chanting or
singing of a singer. gamelan can also
accompany voices, Outside the theater, the dalang commands a high respect from his
community, for he performs the job of an actor, a teacher, a historian, and often a priest.
The dalang is one mechanism that succesfully passes culture and tradition from one
generation to another.
While the night wayang performance is considered pure entertainment, there exists another
variant that is purely religious. This religious wayang performance usually takes place in the
broad day light, without the coconut-husk lamp. In place of the translucent screen, a piece
of string is drawn to separate the dalang from the audience, which may not even exist. This
variant may be performed prior to a ngaben or cremation ceremony.
Balinese Dance
Theater and dance is an integral part of Balinese
culture. Balinese dances are famous all over the world and
the Balinese themselves take them very seriously. Birthdays,
weddings, and temples festivals are all occasions for
dramatic performances and dance is inextricably linked with
the Balinese religion. The commercial performances for
tourists that are today offered on a daily basis in several
places of Bali do, of course, not have the same religious
significance and atmosphere of a dance that is performed at
a real temple festival. Dance is the main art form of Balinese
culture and is performed at main temple festivals and
ceremonies, especially for the cycle of life and death. Taught
and kept in secrecy in villages, halls and palaces, the dances
that tourists witness in hotels and specially constructed stages are merely a fraction of the
dance scene, although most of the dancers come from village groups.
