Special Exhibition "Wayang - Indonesian Shadow Play Puppets"

Finished

These puppets, representing characters from the epic Indian poem the Mahabharata, are used in Wayang Kulit, a form of shadow puppetry from Indonesia. Wayang Kulit has evolved naturally over the years, adding new and original stories for example, or giving the characters more Indonesian-sounding names (such as changing Krishna to Kresna.)

The puppets are made from buffalo leather and the rods used to support them made from buffalo horn. The puppet's exquisite shape is first chiseled out using very fine tools and then painted. The dalang (puppeteer) brings the puppets to life with his skillful improvised performance and narration, keeping the audience spellbound all night long.

While listening to this narration and the accompanying music of the gamelan (an Indonesian musical ensemble), the audience can enjoy watching the puppets' silhouettes and can even go behind the screen to watch the dalang himself in action.

Schedule

Jul 29 (Tue) 2008-Oct 19 (Sun) 2008

Opening Hours Information

Hours	9:30-17:00
Closed	Monday Open on a public holiday Monday but closed on the following day. Closed during the New Year holidays.

Fee

Adults ¥1000; University Students ¥500; High School Students and Under, Under 18s and Seniors 70 & Over free. Special Exhibition Fees may be charged separately.

Venue

Tokyo National Museum
https://www.tnm.jp/?lang=en

Location

13-9 Ueno Park, Taito-ku, Tokyo 110-8712

Open with a Map App

Access

10 minute walk from the Koen exit of JR Ueno Station, 13 minute walk from the Main exit of Keisei Ueno Station on the Keisei line, 15 minute walk from exit 7 at Ueno Station on the Ginza and Hibiya lines.

Phone

050-5541-8600 (Hello Dial)

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