The Role of Shadow Puppetry in the Development of Phatthalung

The Role of Shadow Puppetry
in the Development of
Phatthalung Province, Thailand
2013 NIU Southeast Asia Club Conference
Siew Lian Lim
Shadow Puppet Theater
Carved puppets (traditionally leather)
+ light source
= shadows on a screen
Shadow Puppet Theater
Around the World
India
(Kerala)
Tolpava
Koothu
www.vyshakhullas.wordpress.com
China
(Shaanxi)
http://foter.com/Shadow-Puppets
Shadow Puppet Theater
Around the World
Europe (France)
Central Asia (Turkey)
“Karagöz and Hacivat”
www.exeter.ac.uk
“Le Chat Noir”
www.schattentheater.de/files/englisch
/geschichte/geschichte.php
Shadow Puppetry in SEA
Indonesia
(Java)
– Wayang Kulit
Shadow Puppetry in SEA
Thailand
Nang Yai
(Traditional)
large
Nang
Talung
(Traditional)
small
Shadow Puppetry in SEA
Malaysia
(Kelantan)
– Wayang
Kulit
Shadow Puppetry in SEA
Cambodia
Sbaek Touch (Left 6); Sbaek Thom (Right)
Research Questions:
Nang Talung in Phatthalung Province
Today
1. What role does Nang Talung play today in
Phatthalung?
2. How have changes in Nang Talung
supported Phatthalung’s development?
3. How do these changes help Nang Talung’s
survival?
4. How does the status of Nang Talung in
Phatthalung contrast to Shadow Puppetry
in Cambodia?
Phatthalung
Phatthalung
Thailand
Hat Yai
Phatthalung
• Southern Region surrounded
by Andarman Sea and
Gulf of Thailand
• Phatthalung Province
landlocked
no beaches
-
• Large, shallow Songkla
Lake on the east and
mountains on the west.
• Backpacking, mountain
climbing, and bird
watching
• Major attraction –
Thale Noi
Bird-watching Festival
Shadow Play Handicrafts Village
Mu 1, Ban Bang Kaeo, Tambon Tha Madua,
Amphoe Bang Kaeo, Phatthlung
Research site
•In rural area 22 miles from
Phatthalung City
•60 miles from Hat Yai,
Songkla Province
Shadow Play Handicrafts Village
Interviewed Im Chanchum, Director
•Im Chanchum’s
father was a
popular
puppetmaster
(nai nang)
•Retired from
performing to
set up Village
•Now just
leather crafting
Nang Talung puppets
For performing Nang Talung troupes
Troupes outsource to Village
Nang Yai as decorative art
Includes images popular in Thai culture
Royal family - Rama IX, the Great, and Queen
Nang Yai as decorative art
• New function for
nang “puppets”
Diversification I
Meditating monk
• Sold to art
collectors &
tourists
• Not just puppet
figures - Hand
crafted to order
Crafting
Elephants!
Nang Talung crafting family
Diversification II
Souvenir key chain tags
Cambodia
• Khmer Rouge
(1975-79)
government
Destroyed
Sbaek Theater
• Development
= Restoration
and Healing
(1) Little Angels Orphanage
Siem Reap, Cambodia
Sery Rathana
Founder & Director
Little Angels Orphanage
•Founder Sery Rathana
–orphan, survivor, &
puppetmaker
•70 Children 4 – 18
Years old
•In school 4 hours a day
Humanitarian Art
•Craft
Sbaek puppets the
rest of the day
Carving
Shellacking & Painting
Drying
Tool Making
Home Made
Crucible
Puppets sold to support Orphanage
(2) Sovanna Phum Art Association
Phnom Penh
Siem Reap
•Mann Kosal - Artistic Director
•Graduated - Royal University of Fine Arts, Phnom Penh
•Founded Sovanna Phum 1994
Revives - Traditional Khmer Arts
"New Contemporary Dance and Mixed shadow
Puppets Theater (Sbeak Thom), Mask Theatre"
Mask
Results
Research Question 1
What role does Nang Talung play
today in Phatthalung?
• Nang Talung - part of
Phatthalung’s cultural heritage and
identity
• Even without performance, Nang
Talung is a tourist attraction
Research Question 2
How have changes in Nang Talung
supported Phatthalung’s development?
• Major change: diversification to
production
• Outsourcing Nang Talung puppet
production to Phatthalung, The Village
• Shadow Play Handicrafts Village –
“Essential” cultural site for Phatthalung
tourist industry development
Research Question 3
How do these changes help Nang
Talung’s survival?
•Nang Talung faces same competition
from modern entertainment as
Wayang Kulit but still popular with
Thai people
•Diversification from performance to
Decorative Art creates a new market
– collectors and tourists
Research Question 4
How does the status of Nang Talung in
Phatthalung contrast to Sbaek Theater in
Cambodia?
• Lineage - extremely important to Shadow
Puppet folk art
• Thailand - Nang Talung – lineage preserved
without interruption
• Cambodia –
1. lineage destroyed by Khmer Rouge
2. Now: needs reconstruction including
Humanitarian Work
Recent work by Lim
Echoing Spirits
2011
Gotcha! 2012
Liberation 2012
Taming 2012
Going Home Where The Heart Is 2012
Thank you
Please visit my website:
www.siewlianlim.com
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