Setyawati launches book on 'Wayang'

Setyawati launches book on 'Wayang'

JAKARTA (JP): Leather Gods and Wooden Heroes is the book
launched by Dr. Edi Setyawati, Director General, Culture, from
the Department of Education and Culture, and David Irvine,
Australian High Commissioner to Papua New Guinea here yesterday.

Written by David Irvine, and described as an important event
in cultural relations between Australia and Indonesia, the book
is about the traditional Javanese theater or Wayang Purwa, an
important Indonesian art form.

It focuses on stories and characters of the leather shadow
puppet theater of Central Java, though illustrations of the
principle characters in the traditional three dimensional puppet
style of West Java are also included.

Irvine is the first Australian to write a book on Wayang, and
described it as a 'labor of love'. It took him five years to
complete.

"I wrote Leather Gods and Wooden Heroes because a wise old
Javanese gentleman once said to me you'd never understand
anything about Java unless you understand the Wayang," said
Irvine.

"And it's difficult to enter this world when you don't speak
Javanese" he said.

Irvine looked around for books on Wayang in the mid 1970s, but
was unable to find many. He finally discovered a book written by
a well known Indonesian short story writer and translated it into
English.

"I realized we needed something in English, so I deliberately
tried to write a book, so English speaking people could learn
about the Wayang," Irvine said.

"The great thing about this book is you don't have to read it
cover to cover...You can delve into it, be introduced to the
characters and find out different things about the puppets, as
well as what the plots and themes of Wayang Purwa are" he said.

Chapters in the book cover topics such as the origins of
Wayang Purwa; the epic stories of Wayang Purwa; the themes; the
characters; the Javanese Wayang art forms, and Dalangs, Puppets
and Music.

Irvine is optimistic about the future of Wayang Pura, and
believes the art form will survive.

Leather Gods and Wooden Heroes will be available from all
Times Editions bookstores and most Hotel bookstores, retailing
for Rp 175 000.