Starting Tuesday, Feb. 2, members of the public will be able to view a curated collection of Indonesian shadow puppets at the Daura Museum of Art.The museum acquired the shadow puppets several years ago in keeping “with our goal of expanding and diversifying the permanent collection that can then be used for exhibitions that emphasize cross-cultural understanding,” said Barbara Rothermel, director of the Daura.
The exhibition, which includes 25 wayang kulit shadow puppets from Bali and Java, is titled “Wayang Kulit: The Art of Indonesian Shadow Puppets.”
“Wayang kulit performances have existed since at least the ninth century as a way to deliver a divine message about the value of life, virtue, morality, and good versus evil through a unique combination of ritual and entertainment,” Rothermel said.
Additionally, the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has designated wayang kulit as a Masterpiece of Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.
“A guiding principle of the Daura museum is that the appreciation of the visual arts across time and cultures is one of the most effective ways to become culturally aware global citizens,” Rothermel added.
The exhibit will be on display until April 2. The Daura Museum of Art is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday, and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Thursday. For more information, visit the Daura museum’s website.
