Shadow puppet representing Semar
Item
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Title
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Shadow puppet representing Semar
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Creator
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Unidentified artist
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Subject
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Shadow puppet
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Culture
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Javanese
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Medium
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Buffalo leather; buffalo horn; pigments
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Description
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Semar is considered to be the most powerful of gods in the world of wayang despite his comical depiction that shows him with bulging tired eyes, flat nose, and big belly and behind. He is regarded as the guardian spirit of Java and is venerated by the Javanese for his wisdom, humility, humor, and his ability to give critical commentaries related to current events or issues, and therefore, connecting the world of wayang with the reality of the people. Amongst wayang characters, puppeteers and artists also regard Semar as the hardest and the most sacred character to make. Practitioners are usually required to undergo a certain ritual before being deemed able to depict Semar. Within the epics of the Mahabharata or Ramayana, Semar serves as the advisor of the good forces.
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Provenance
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Gift of Claire Holt and Benedict R.O'G. Anderson
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Rights
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Collection of the Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art. Coll. no. 81.033.007
