Javanese shadow puppets

The night air is scented with spice and the aroma of succulent sweets. On a portable stage, the puppeteer-priest sets up his framed screen and lamps.

He will thrill and enchant a crowd with his puppets. Those present will feel protected from evil influences during the play, so potent is the magic of the shadow performance.

To the women, seated in front of the screen, the leather puppets appear as shadows. The men, behind the screen, see the beautifully painted figures. Children sit close to the puppeteer, imitating his actions and voices with their own paper versions of the puppets.

Find out more

· Javanese shadow puppets in Brighton Museum's collection
· Find out more about Javanese shadow puppet performance

How are Javanese shadow puppets displayed in Performance Gallery?

	Java shadow and rod puppets in Performance Gallery

Indonesian rod and shadow puppets share a case. To the left, shadow puppets are displayed to highlight their strong silhouette. Unlike in shadow puppet performance, a detailed close-up inspection is possible, showing the exquisite painting of the puppets. To the side, a set of figures is ranked, as they would be for performance, ready for the puppeteer to transfer to the next scene.