Cultural Commentary: Traditions and Heritage: See Hiang To

See Hiang To, Malay Man with Wayang Kulit, 1977, Chinese Ink.

What you need to know:

Wayang is the Indonesian word for theatre.
Wayang Kulit is the most widely known type of wayang, and is a shadow puppet theatre.
This type of theatre uses light and shadow, and the puppets are made of leather and placed on bamboo sticks.

It is thought that the Wayang Kulit began with the influence of Hinduism in Indonesia in the first century CE. When Muslim influence came to Indonesia, the Wayang Kulit suffered censorship due to it's portrayal of Gods in its stories.

The Tok Dalang, similar to a puppeteer, is the mastermind behind the show. He narrates the story using voice inflections from behind the screen. There is orchestra music in the background.

Here's a taste of what the Wayang Kulit is:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJGE3m7BEng&feature=related

Historically, people of Malay decent have been living on the island of Sumatra. It therefore may be inferred that it would not be uncommon for a Malay man living in Indonesia to take up the art of the Wayang Kulit.

The man is wearing a songkok, a hat traditionally worn by Muslim men, and typically worn with traditional clothing. While it is difficult to tell what exactly the puppet is, it has striking similarities to depictions of the Hindu God Balrama. The coloring (green), headress worn, and even the style of pants are very similar. Click here for an image of Balrama. This creates a juxtaposition, or conflict of interests, as we know that the religion of Islam does not allow for the use of Hindu Gods and Godesses in Watyang Kulit. How you interpret this is completely up to you.

Furthermore, there is Chinese writing on the side of the page. With so many aspects of widely distinct culturals present in this work, it could be a commentary on the diversity of cultures that are represented in Indonesia, around 300, a melting pot that has been developing for centuries.