Description

Wayang Kulit shadow puppet by Tri Suwarno from Java, Indonesia, c.2010.
Water buffalo hide body painted with water-based paints, with water buffalo horn and bamboo handles (13″ h. x 5 1/2″ w. x 1/2″ d., 21″ h. including 8″ handle).
This puppet commemorates the life and death of Mbah Marijan (Maridjan), the hereditary spiritual guardian of Java’s Mt. Merapi volcano.  When the volcano erupted in October 2010, the 83 year old “volcano keeper” refused to leave his post.  He was later found dead in prayer position in his home, 5 km from the volcano summit.  See the BBC story Spiritual guardian of Indonesian volcano dies