Wayang Kulit: Dewa Ruci

Saturday 13 March 2010, 8pm
The Substation
Tickets: $25 (free seating)
Ticket reservations: please call 92351112 (Agnes), 82100326 (Didi), or 84209788 (Gerry)

This shadow puppet show is presented as part of the 4th Indonesian Arts Festival.

This Javanese shadow puppet story illuminates the process of the character Bratasena seeking out his identity.

One day, Bratasena was given the task of finding “Kayu Gung Susuhing Angin” by his trusted teacher, Resi Durna. After having thoroughly searched the Tikbrasara forest, Bratasena found nothing. Instead, he chanced upon the two giants, Rukmuka and Rulmala, who attempted to kill him.

Confronted by Bratasena’s power, the two giants transformed back to their real forms as the Gods, Batara Indra and Batara Bayu. They then told Bratasena that “Kayu Gung Susuhing Angin”, the thing that Bratasena had been searching for, actually doesn’t exist.

Resi Durna then gave Bratasena another task, claiming that this was meant to be the last examination. Bratasena was to search for “Tirta Prawita Mahesing Suci”, which could be found in the Minang Kalbu ocean.

Eventually, his task brought him to the virtual world, where he met “Dewa Ruci”, who turned out to be none other than his “internal” self. There, he finally understood the essence of human life.

On this journey of self-discovery, Bratasena eventually discovered spiritual fulfillment and found his own, true self.