Footnotes

印尼 一九八二年 印尼哇揚偶戲—山

PROPERTY FROM AN IMPORTANT PRIVATE COLLECTION

Provenance:
Private Collection, Indonesia


Wayang (shadow puppetry) is one of the oldest and most treasured heritage in Southeast Asia, especially Indonesia. Better known as Wayang Kulit (buffalo hide) in Indonesia, the craft has been preserved by the UNESCO as a Masterpiece of Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity in 2003. Wayang Kulit is typically performed by casting the shadow of the puppet onto a white cloth and played by a Dalang (puppeteer) on a gedebog (banana trunk base). The puppets are adorned with stylized perforations to create a certain dimensionality on its silhouette. Wayang Kulit itself has developed over time and is used to narrate a range of stories from Hindu epics to contemporary political issues.

Lots 59 – 61 present the oldest archetype of Wayang in Indonesia: Wayang Kulit Purwa (first) that could be traced as early as 11th century Java. The craft has been preserved by and performed in the Surakarta sultanate palace, portraying the Hindu epics of Ramayana and Mahabaratha that has been infused with Javanese traditions. Wayang Kulit Purwa depicts more than 200 characters in the epics and Bonhams is pleased to present 5 rare Wayang Kulit Purwa this season: Limbuk and Naga (Lot 60), Kuda Tunggang (saddle horse) and Gajah Liar (wild elephants) (Lot 61), and Gunungan (Lot 59).

Among many Wayang figures, Gunungan is undoubtedly the key element in the performance. Its presence in the performance marks the beginning, the transitions of important scenes and the end of the performance. Gunungan is also used as a contextual prop indicating major landscape elements such as mountain, lake or cloud and when it is turned to its deep scarlet revere, it is used to symbolise fire or flame.

Its importance is seen through its purposefully detailed ornamentation. Javanese Gunungan is typically symmetrical in form to depict the Mount Meru - the centre of all physical, metaphysical and spiritual universes in Hindu and Buddhist belief systems. The universe symbolism is further elaborated by numerous imageries and figures carved and painted onto the Wayang: the courtyard at the bottom that represents the earth; the gate of heaven protected by two guardian figures in the middle that separates the earth and heaven; mythical figures such as Kala (god of time) and Garuda (mythical bird), spiritual animals and flowers on top that represents the heaven; and banyan tree that extends from the earth to the sky that signifies the connection of both realms. Its omnipresence and inherent symbols in Wayang performance make Gunungan out to be one of - if not - the most elemental piece in the performance.