Malaysian shadow puppet master dies

Malaysian shadow puppet master dies

MALAYSIA: Malaysia's waning art of shadow puppetry has suffered
another setback with the death of one of the last masters of the
tradition, a report said on Wednesday.

Puppet master Abdullah Ibrahim died on Monday at the age of 67
in northern Kelantan state from asthma and complications related
to an earlier stroke, the Star daily said.

"A very real light has passed from my life. There was so much
more to learn from him," writer and artist Eddin Khoo, a former
student of Abdullah's, was quoted as saying.

Known as Dollah Baju Merah -- which means in part "Red Shirt"
in reference to his favorite attire -- Abdullah started
performing as a puppeteer in the traditional artform at the age
of 13.

Wayang kulit or "shadow play", is performed by casting shadows
of elaborately detailed figures, carved on animal skin, onto a
screen which separates the puppeteer from the audience.

Traditional performances tell tales from the Hindu epics --
which led to a 1990 ban on the artform in its heartland of
Kelantan state, which is ruled by the ultra-conservative
opposition Pan-Malaysia Islamic Party. -- AFP