'Wayang' performance shows art in new light

By Putu Wirata

DENPASAR, Bali (JP): A combination of Balinese wayang (puppet shadow play), dalang (puppetry) and modern film technology resulted in a unique performance called wayang listrik (electric wayang).

The performance, presenting the mythological tale of Tirtha Amertha (Holy Water), enchanted hundreds of spectators at the Sheraton Nusa Indah Convention Center on March 13.

The idea was conceived by Larry Reed, an American who has studied the art of Balinese wayang for more than 20 years. For the performance, Reed cooperated with dalang (puppeteer) Dewa Putu Beratha, a composer, a stage designer and a musician.

The staging of Tirtha Amertha was organized by the Dyatmika Foundation, an organization which concentrates on education, particularly building schools for expatriate children.

Electrical wayang is a startlingly creative idea. It not only employs a cinema-sized screen, but it also avails itself of nearly all forms of artistic expression existing in Bali. Apart from the music which usually accompanies a wayang performance, the sounds of various instruments not associated with wayang provided a riotous atmosphere to the performance.

Along with the usual leather puppets representing servants, gods and giants, the performance also employed live dancers. Of course, spectators only see the silhouettes of the performers dancing on stage.

"It is really very interesting. It should inspire Denpasar art students as well as Balinese artists to be creative and innovative," said cultural observer Putu Suasta.

The show was packaged in a modern way and the performance lasted two hours -- a traditional wayang performance may last three to four hours. Two languages, Indonesian and English, were used in the performance. This allowed expatriates, who usually cannot follow wayang shows, to appreciate the performance.

Tirtha Amertha tells the story of gods in heaven confronting giants. The gods are able to defeat the giants only after being strengthened by tirtha amertha. The gods obtain the holy water by rotating Mandara Giri mountain.

The performance uses film technology to create a background of Hindu temples, pools, rice fields, seas and forests. Against this background, puppets and dancers perform, making the giant screen seem to vibrate with the action.

When Mandara Giri is rotated by the gods, elephants, horses, angels and the goddess Laksmi appear from the bottom of the mountain. The scene is enthralling, even more so because laser lighting is used to give the screen the appearance of a precious stone. With the accompanying gamelan, spectators are taken into a world of stillness and enchantment.

There are some aspects of the performance which could upset traditionalists, including the use of English by the servants, who translate from the Kawi wayang language.

"With Delem and Tuwalen, the two servants, using English, the performance loses some of its sacredness," said Rai Sulastra, a poet who employs Balinese.

Sacredness is a concept employed in nearly all traditional arts in Bali. Even the electrical wayang makes ceremonial offerings to Bhatara Siwa, ruler of the arts.