Special Performance: Indonesian Shadow Puppetry (wayang kulit)

Name: Special Performance: Indonesian Shadow Puppetry (wayang kulit)
Start: 2026-03-05T17:00:00-05:00
Location: Indiana University 1133 E 7th St, Bloomington, IN, United States, Indiana 47405

Schedule

Thu, 05 Mar, 2026 at 05:00 pm

UTC-05:00

Location

Indiana University 1133 E 7th St, Bloomington, IN, United States, Indiana 47405 | Bloomington, IN

Join us for a special Indonesian shadow puppet performance in conjunction with the featured exhibition Mulyana: Vital Ecosystems.
Performances of “Suramaya” at 5 and 6 p.m.
This 30-minute shadow puppet performance by Dr. Jennifer Goodlander tells the tale of a king who sends his servants into the forest to collect supplies for a big party. The king of the forest, Suramaya, does not like his plan. Experience a dynamic story with an environmental message, told with beautiful animal puppets. Appropriate for all ages.
About Dr. Jennifer Goodlander
Jennifer Goodlander is an Associate Professor in the Dept. of Theatre, Drama, and Contemporary Dance and Director of the Southeast Asian and ASEAN Studies Center. Jennifer has published numerous articles and two books: Women in the Shadows: Gender, Puppets, and the Power of Tradition in Bali (Ohio University Press, 2016) and Puppets and Cities: Articulating Identities in Southeast Asia (Bloomsbury Methuen Drama, 2018). Jennifer remains active as a director and has performed Balinese wayang kulit, or shadow puppetry, at international festivals and around the United States.
Connections to Mulyana: Vital Ecosystems
Mulyana’s community-engaged artmaking practice, performances, and immersive installations reinvent Indonesia’s enduring tradition of shadow puppetry (wayang kulit). Wayang combines engaging storytelling, music, spirituality, and a range of different characters. Alluding to this theatrical apparatus, Mulyana invents his own distinct octopus-monster characters (Mogus) to populate his fantastical textile ecosystems. His dramatic use of light and shadow further evokes the atmospheric quality of shadow puppet performances. Consistent with this tradition, Mulyana: Vital Ecosystems fosters community gathering and conveys a powerful message about social wellbeing.