Lomography

I only come at the 1st and 2nd day of the festival because the rest of it were super heavy rainy day and I got an influenza at the day 3rd. So, it's not a comprehensive review.

I was planning to join puppet photo competition which were held by one of the biggest bank in Indonesia. Unfortunately I still can’t get the best shoot for the puppet theme in my hometown, Bandung. How tragic because four day after the deadline of the competition submission there were a puppet festival at Gasibu, right in front of landmark of the city, Gedung Sate.

Photo by hervinsyah

My intention come to the fest are not for hunting for the competition anymore. It’s pure because I want to appreciated the rich of puppet culture that my country have. Many days before the festival were held, there were a pre-event to promoted the fest on Dago car free day. It’s very entertaining pre-event which shown the newest creation of puppet.

Photo by hervinsyah

They made the giant puppet which control by the people inside, maybe inspired by Chinese Barongsay (?)

Photo by hervinsyah

And the giant puppet can do the fighting just like the Chinese Barongsay did. Maybe it’s truely inspired by Barongsay.

Photo by hervinsyah

But the most appreciated puppet show at the pre-event on Dago car free day was Cepot, the most iconic puppet of Sundanese.

Photo by hervinsyah

People very enthusiast and entertained by Umar Darusman Sunandar a.k.a. Dalang (master of puppet) Riswa.

Photo by hervinsyah

His joke is very out of the box which made me always can’t stop gigle because of it.

Photo by hervinsyah

Unfortunately the show have to stopped by the police because the president of my country will come to attend his ruling party event. It made me planned to come to the fest at night.

Photo by hervinsyah

I come to Helar Wayang (Puppet Festival) on December 16th, 2012 on heavy rain weather at night. The event organizer are wait for the rain to stopped. After waiting for two hour, finally the show were opened by the theatrical of puppet people at muddy field. And the most waited also wanted performer, Si Cepot by Dalang Riswa. Actually after Si Cepot there was another one performer but I decide to went back home because I had to chase the last public transportation to my home.

Photo by hervinsyah

At the next day, I come again at heavy rainy night again. And it made the viewer more less than the first day. Many of the viewers including me were climbing the stage to see the show from Wayang Cirebon more closer.

Photo by hervinsyah

And look that one of the viewer below who stand alone and recording the show with his cell phone. The show itself using Bahasa Jawa (Javanese language) which totally different from Bahasa Jawa that I know because I used to live in Semarang, Central Java, and it’s totally different from what of the performers language use, but I enjoy it eventhough I didn’t understand it. It’s made me more appreciating the variety and richness of Indonesian culture. After 3 hours and the show are still not finish yet, I chose to went back home earlier because my body start to feeling not well and it’s an alarm for me to take a rest at home.

Photo by hervinsyah