Wayang steals Grand Indonesia opening - Some say art equals rebellion - a whipping movement against what's rigid and predictable: even movements now regarded as traditional may have sprung from radical thoughts in the past.
This certainly seemed to be the case when five wayang (traditional puppet show) artists flamboyantly marched into Grand Indonesia Kempinski mall's Bali Room on Tuesday before the master of ceremonies had commanded them to do so - cutting the kebaya-clad woman short of her planned introductory speech.
The artists, all members of Wayang Suket Surakarta, took their place on stage with merry chants and mischievous smiles as if they were not part of the official opening of the vast and plush Grand Indonesia Kempinski mall and hotel complex in Central Jakarta, on Tuesday.
Ki Slamet Gundono, the puppet master and creator of wayang suket, began his lively monologue in Javanese, accompanied by an oud and another string instrument, as well as kettledrums.
The story began with recollections of Ki Slamet's childhood and his search for divine truth that led him to Central Java's Sukuh temple.
The story then quickly shifted to that of Manikmaya, the King of the Gods, and his Goddess wife, Uma.
Love between the two powerful figures had turned sour, causing them to curse each other to become horrible creatures.
"The story revolves around a relationship, but it actually represents a wider dialectical process of life, in which conflicts and negativities are omnipresent," Gundono explained after the show. "It is about ever-recurring conflicts of interests."
Gundono and the actress playing Uma added spice to their performances using fresh humor and dialogue from the everyday Jakarta lexicon.
The story certainly contains wise messages, but Gundono admits it is still bound by patriarchal ideas.
"It was not fair that Uma was the only one to be cleansed *in the story*, but such was the manifestation of patriarchy back then, and perhaps even today." ( thejakartapost.com )
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