Craft-based puppet from animal skins of cows and goats in the village of Dumplengan, District Pitu, Ngawi regency, East Java, still survive, although interest in these traditional arts community to further decline.
However, declining people’s interest especially the younger generation against the art of traditional puppet, do not lose the spirit of one of his puppet craftsmen, Suwito, Dumplengan village residents, to continue to produce this shadow play.
“I pursue this work has been since the 1980s. And until now is still running, although the order was not busy as before,” said Suwito.
According to Suwito, shadow puppets are created based on the story while acting out the triumph of the Kingdom of Majapahit Ramayana and Mahabharata. Departing from the historical value is very high, Suwito want to preserve the culture of wayang kulit, which now increasingly fading prominence. (more…)
