Wayang Kulit, shadow theater from Java and Bali: the exhibition at the Musée du Quai Branly, our photos

After exhibitions devoted to the kimono, Australian legends, the world of Bollywood, shamanic visions, Mexico and zombies, the Musée du Quai Branly transports us to Indonesia, to discover the'wayang kulit' shadow theater.

Simply entitled " Wayang Kulit, shadow theater from Java and Bali ", this little"exhibition dossier" awaits you from Tuesday November 12, 2024 to Sunday March 23, 2025. This time, the sublime Parisian museum invites us on a voyage of discovery of one of Indonesia's oldest theatrical traditions, the'wayang kulit'.

Considered a popular and timeless art form, 'wayang kulit' shadow theater is a performance art form that is firmly rooted in Indonesian society. The concept? Puppets are projected onto a screen in Chinese shadow. The flat puppets are cut from cuir-wayang, meaning " shadow ", and kulit, meaning " skin ".

During these performances, which usually last an entire night, the puppeteer, nicknamed the'dalang', takes center stage. As well as making the puppets talk and move, the'dalang' is also the storyteller, singer and conductor of the performance. Much more than just a puppeteer, the'dalang' is highly respected.

• To be read
• Zombies: death is not the end? The Frontiers of Life exhibition at the Musée du Quai Branly
• The Musée du Quai Branly in Paris: a journey to the heart of the world's cultures
• Journées du Patrimoine 2024: musical tours of the Musée du Quai Branly in Paris

Wayang kulit first saw the light of day over 1,000 years ago on the island of Java. At the time, wayang kulit was intended to be a ritualized courtly art form, drawing on the Indian stories of the Mahâbhârata and the Râmâyana. These epics are considered the most classical and popular theater in Indonesia. They feature divine and princely characters, against the backdrop of a great battle between good and evil. But the wayang kulit repertoire has evolved over the centuries.

From November 12, 2024 to March 23, 2025, the musée du quai Branly deciphers this age-old folk art, unveiling an exclusive selection of ancient Indonesian puppets in six showcases. These can be discovered in the Atelier Martine Aublet, located at the heart of the Quai Branly museum's permanent collections.

An opportunity to gain a better understanding of shadow theater iconography and storytelling, through the stories of Rama and Arjuna and the clown Semar.

The exhibition also features video portraits of artists, such as Ni Woro Mustiko Siwi, great-granddaughter of the first female "dalang" of the Surakarta Palace (Solo) in Central Java. The creations ofHeri Dono, a contemporary Indonesian artist particularly appreciated for his humor, are also presented. Interviews give a better understanding of the role of the 'dalang' and the behind-the-scenes aspects of shadow theater.