Voicing Support for Jogja Special Status through Wayang Republik

Soekarno, Hatta, and Sultan HB IX Puppets in Wayang Republik (Photo: Trasmara)

24 Maret 2011

Jogja, Jogjatrip.com – There are many ways to speak up your supports for Yogyakarta’s status of being a ‘Special Region’. You can rally a demonstration, hold a parade or dance performance. For Ki Catur ‘Benyek’ Kuncoro, a creative young puppeteer, it is through a puppet show called Wayang Republik. The show ran for an hour and was held at the residence of GKR Pembayun (Sultan’s daughter), Suryomataraman Kulon Street, on Monday (3/21) night as part of the event Sarasehan Sabdatama.

Wayang Republik has been held for several times, such as in the Pagelaran Hall of the Royal Palace of Yogyakarta, Kepatihan Hall, and recently in Dalem Wironegaran (GKR Pembayun’s house). In the shows before, the puppets were borrowed from Kekayon Museum while this latest one used new puppets made by Hadi Sukirna. “It was quite difficult to make the puppets as I needed to look at photos of Soekarno, Hatta, Sultan HB IX, and Paku Alam VIII while they were young. I had to paint their faces,” Hadi explained to the attendants after the show.

According to Ki Benyek, he did have some difficulties in telling the history of the Yogyakarta revolution circa 1945 – 1949 in a limited duration. “As I had only one hour, it was hard to tell the complete story. So I picked up only the most important points, including [the part about] Yogyakarta's special status,” said Ki Benyek.

For that night, Ki Benyek had prepared himself throughout the previous week. The group consisted also of 6 musicians (pengrawit) who were high-schoolers and students of ISI Yogyakarta. Unlike the prior shows, that night on the stage there were elephant, tiger, and tall buildings ornaments. Where there had been gunungan at the background like in traditional puppet shows, Wayang Republik featured decorations like sea, Krapyak Stronghold, Yogya Royal Palace, Tugu Monument, and Mount Merapi. “Each of them has a deep meaning,” said Ki Benyek.

Hadi Sukirna when interviewed with Jogjatrip.com said that he got to make only 19 puppets of the 33 planned. The puppets were made of buffalo skin and he had spent 2.5 pieces of it. “Buffalo skin is very good to make leather puppet,” said the wood and leather crafter.

Wayang Republik is planned to be held in kampongs around Yogyakarta after this, starting from Gunung Kidul in April.***(Teguh R. Asmara)