Dang! Dang tak dung plak!
Ning... nong... ning... nong...
Prak! Prak! Prak!
Three young puppeteer students joke in between attending puppet school lessons at the Nirmala Sari Studio, Cinere, Depok, West Java.
A young puppeteer student strikes the bonang while practicing Javanese gamelan instruments at the Nirmala Sari Studio
The incense smoke curled, calming the heart of Sang Apekik. Encompassing all realms, Oooo...
However, causing great commotion, Sang Resu Kaneka Putra arrives from the heavens, Oooo...
The strains of gamelan, kendang, and demung accompany the recital opening the wayang kulit play Anoman Obong. Behind the screen, Benji, a young puppeteer, skillfully animates the character Anoman. His right hand manipulates the puppet, while his feet rhythmically play the keprak, matching the dialogue and action unfolding.
A young puppeteer student strikes the saron while practicing Javanese gamelan instruments during puppet school.
Nirmala Sari Studio instructor, Puji Winarto, demonstrates the movements of puppets to his students.
In the corner of the room, a group of children enthusiastically plays Javanese gamelan instruments. The sounds of kendang, gender, bonang, demung, saron, kenong, kempul, gong, and gambang blend together to enliven the performance. These harmonious tones emanate from a modest room in Gang Wayang, Cinere, Depok, West Java.
On the second floor of the building, dozens of children practice the art of puppetry at Sanggar Nirmala Sari. Established by the late Ki Asman Budi Prayitno on June 1, 1987, the studio has become a learning space for wayang kulit that continues to thrive in the Jabodetabek area.
Every Sunday, children aged five to their teens come from various regions to learn. They not only study how to perform puppetry but are also required to master Javanese gamelan as an integral part of the art.
A child records the shadow puppet play lesson of his teacher.
A young puppeteer student plays with various puppets during a break at puppet school.
Since its establishment nearly four decades ago, Sanggar Nirmala Sari has produced hundreds of students. Currently, there are about 25 active students divided into two classes. Class A runs from 08:00 to 12:00 WIB, while Class B is held from 13:00 to 17:00 WIB.
According to the studio instructor, Puji Winarto, a puppeteer’s learning process does not only focus on the skill of performing puppetry. Students also learn about character recognition, techniques for holding and moving the puppets, dodokan and keprakan, soliloquy, wayang literature, and the philosophy contained in each play.
“From the plays they perform, students can learn lessons about virtue, loyalty, and values of wisdom relevant in daily life,” he said.
Several students chat while enjoying instant noodles during a training break.
Several young puppeteer students take a group photo after attending puppet school.
For some parents, learning puppetry also becomes a positive alternative activity amid the increasing exposure to the digital world for children. This is felt by Irina Laurensia, the parent of Amadeo, a seven-year-old student residing in Kebun Jeruk, West Jakarta.
According to Irina, the interest in attending puppet school started from her son's own desire. Yet on the other hand, the activity also reduces the child's time spent on gadgets. She admits to often monitoring her child's digital activities and acknowledges the various risks that can arise from unsupervised internet use, ranging from bullying to age-inappropriate interactions.
This concern is what the government is addressing through the Ministry of Communication and Digital by enacting a Government Regulation on the Management of Electronic Systems in Child Protection or PP Tunas. The regulation promotes the creation of a safer digital space for children, including through feature restrictions and age verification on several digital platforms.
Three young puppeteer students chat after attending puppet school at the Nirmala Sari Studio, Cinere, Depok, West Java.
Amid various efforts to protect children in the digital realm, Sanggar Nirmala Sari offers an alternative space in the real world. Here, children not only learn to play wayang characters but also inherit cultural values that have lived for centuries.
Like the Anoman Obong play that tells the story of Anoman's courage facing Rahwana to save Dewi Sinta, these young puppeteers now perform their own roles. Amidst the strong currents of technology and digital entertainment, they continue to strike the keprak, chant soliloquies, and ensure that cultural heritage remains alive from one generation to the next.
Photo and Text: Indrianto Eko Suwarso