WAYANG RAJAKAYA INDONESIA-JERMAN

WAYANG RAJAKAYA INDONESIA-JERMAN

In February 2024, Wisma Jerman collaborated with Rumah Budaya Sidoarjo and Mawar Sharon Christian School for a special series of events under the program Wayang Rajakaya Indonesia-Jerman. The program took place from 24-28 February 2024. Wayang Rajakaya Indonesia-Jerman comprised of an exhibition, a workshop, and a wayang shadow puppet performance. The program presented works by the puppet master Herlambang Bayu Aji, the creator of Wayang Rajakaya, who is originally from Solo, Central Java, but has been living in Berlin since 2010.

The event series started with an exhibition of Bayu Aji’s graphic art held from 24-28 February 2024 at Rumah Budaya Sidoarjo, Jl. Malik Ibrahim 39 Sidoarjo. On Saturday, 24 February, the exhibition titled “Animalgination” was opened by Mr. Mike Neuber, Director of Wisma Jerman, and Mr. Satriagama Rakantaseta, owner and manager of Rumah Budaya Sidoarjo. ‘Animalgination’ displays “fantastic beasts” from the creative mind of Bayu Aji that are the result of a mix of various parts of different animals to create creatures that don’t exist but whose existence could be discussed. With this approach Bayu Aji wants to point out imbalances between humans and nature, man-made evolution, and its possible effects. It is a reminder to all of us that we have an important responsibility towards nature, to protect and preserve it.

On the following day Bayu Aji led a creative puppet-making workshop for 25 young participants in Halle Room, Wisma Jerman. Through this workshop, Bayu Aji aimed to educate the participants about the importance of knowing culture from an early age, in addition to fostering creativity, starting from the making of the puppets itself to the creation of characters and story ideas to be conveyed.

The event series was closed with a Wayang Rajakaya performance by Bayu Aji at the Mawar Sharon Christian School Auditorium on 27 February 2024. Wayang Rajakaya is a modern version of the traditional Indonesian shadow puppet theatre. It differs from traditional wayang performances using animal characters with human attributes as the main protagonists. Bayu Aji presented two stories during the performance, namely “Persahabatan Itu Indah” and “Dal Gembong Dinas”. Both stories are based on complex social issues but simplified in a way that can be understood and enjoyed by children who were the main target audience of the event.. Before Bayu Aji mesmerized the audience with his first story, Mr. Mike Neuber, Director of Wisma Jerman, and Mrs. Johana Iskandar, Business Development Manager of Mawar Sharon opened the performance with a short welcome speech. The first story, “Persahabatan Itu Indah” tells about the plight of animals in forests and farms who have to flee because they are losing their habitat due to human activity. To escape their environment where it becomes more and more difficult to find food all the animals work together to build a plane to find a safe place where they can live in peace.

Before the start of the second story, the audience was entertained by the music of DJ Plötzlich who mixes ethnic sounds with hip-hop music. The second story, “Dal Gembong Dinas” tells the story of an argument between two twin cows, which eventually becomes chaos after several animals on the farm who want to mediate between the two sisters, end up supporting one of them without providing a solution. Seeing the situation, the farmer tries to solve the problem by bringing in a guard dog named Dal Gembong. In the end all the animals end up under the dog’s dictatorship.

All events were also supported by Leeven & Co, Omamamio Gelato, Astaganaga, Cheers Healthy Drinking Water and Mumtaz Hotel & Transport Sidoarjo. The continued support from all parties involved and the promotional efforts of Harian DISWAY, She Radio, BASRA, Ngopibareng and MTB FM which covered the event exclusively, contributed to the events’ success. We would like to thank them for their support and express our gratitude to everyone who participated. We look forward to welcoming you again at our next event.