Excursion to Sinar Galih Wayang Golek

We visited the Wooden Puppet home industry with the Grade 6-8 class. This excursion was the same day as the Diwali Celebrations. The students had been learning about the “Rama and Shinta” story so the timing was perfect for this visit. The home industry is a small family business. The family started making wooden puppets in 1965 so next year there will be a 50 year celebration. They are continuing to pass on their artistic skills from generation to generation. “Wayang golek” (wooden puppet) is a traditional art form of West Java. There is also “Wayang Kulit” (leather puppet) and “Wayang Wong or Orang” (human puppet) from Central Java. For the “Wayang golek” artists carve the wood by hand, paint the features and then clothe the puppets with materials like batik or sarong. The student’s task was to paint the face of Rama or Shinta very carefully. This was a very delicate task. The evidence is on the expression of the student’s faces as they paint. Some of the students got to use some other puppets on display to make their own performance. Everyone got to take their puppet home and some were busy having their own puppet conversation while traveling on the bus back to school. 

RAVANA
THE EVIL CHARACTER IN THE DIWALI STORY

We multiplied our own heads 10 times to turn into the king of demons, Ravana. We also made 3D models of evil faces and put them together to represent Ravana. We used our imaginations as to what each pair of faces may be capable of.

Below are some features different students came up with:
Head 1 and 2 - Can read minds and turn to an animal or person
Head 3 and 4 - Omega beams
Head 5 and 6 -  Are the bosses
Head 7 and 8 - Shoot out spider webs
Head 9 and 10 - Spit boiling water