Setyawati launches book on 'Wayang'<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Leather Gods and Wooden Heroes is the book
\nlaunched by Dr. Edi Setyawati, Director General, Culture, from
\nthe Department of Education and Culture, and David Irvine,
\nAustralian High Commissioner to Papua New Guinea here yesterday.<\/p>\n
Written by David Irvine, and described as an important event
\nin cultural relations between Australia and Indonesia, the book
\nis about the traditional Javanese theater or Wayang Purwa, an
\nimportant Indonesian art form.<\/p>\n
It focuses on stories and characters of the leather shadow
\npuppet theater of Central Java, though illustrations of the
\nprinciple characters in the traditional three dimensional puppet
\nstyle of West Java are also included.<\/p>\n
Irvine is the first Australian to write a book on Wayang, and
\ndescribed it as a 'labor of love'. It took him five years to
\ncomplete.<\/p>\n
\"I wrote Leather Gods and Wooden Heroes because a wise old
\nJavanese gentleman once said to me you'd never understand
\nanything about Java unless you understand the Wayang,\" said
\nIrvine.<\/p>\n
\"And it's difficult to enter this world when you don't speak
\nJavanese\" he said.<\/p>\n
Irvine looked around for books on Wayang in the mid 1970s, but
\nwas unable to find many. He finally discovered a book written by
\na well known Indonesian short story writer and translated it into
\nEnglish.<\/p>\n
\"I realized we needed something in English, so I deliberately
\ntried to write a book, so English speaking people could learn
\nabout the Wayang,\" Irvine said.<\/p>\n
\"The great thing about this book is you don't have to read it
\ncover to cover...You can delve into it, be introduced to the
\ncharacters and find out different things about the puppets, as
\nwell as what the plots and themes of Wayang Purwa are\" he said.<\/p>\n
Chapters in the book cover topics such as the origins of
\nWayang Purwa; the epic stories of Wayang Purwa; the themes; the
\ncharacters; the Javanese Wayang art forms, and Dalangs, Puppets
\nand Music.<\/p>\n
Irvine is optimistic about the future of Wayang Pura, and
\nbelieves the art form will survive.<\/p>\n
Leather Gods and Wooden Heroes will be available from all
\nTimes Editions bookstores and most Hotel bookstores, retailing
\nfor Rp 175 000.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/setyawati-launches-book-on-wayang-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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