Hanny Wijaya

The Story Within The Silent Figures: Interconnection Studies of Austrian Puppetry and Indonesian Wayang Golek

Beginn des PhD-Programms / Start of the PhD-Program​: 
SS 2022

Betreuung / Supervision: 
Amalia Barboza

Abstract:
In many parts of Europe, puppetry was well established by the thirteenth century and free exchanged between the countries there has produced similar trends and styles in puppetry. Austria contributed to the most important development of rod puppetry in Europe since Richard Teschner initiated to development of his rod puppet inspired by Indonesian Wayang Golek. Furthermore, Austrian marionette opera as the new form of figure theatre was also developed at the end of the 19th century. Among others is the Salzburg Marionette Theatre established in 1913 by Anton Aicher. It is one of the oldest marionette theatres in the world. The main objective of this research is to discover the connection between Austrian and Indonesian puppetry through cultural perspectives, including artistic and historical aspects. Colonialism between Indonesia and the Netherland will be explored as a background on how Indonesian Wayang Golek was first brought to Europe. The research will be done primarily through cultural workshops as the method of artistic data collection. Using Participatory Art (including Relational Aesthetics) as the main artistic approach, this research will emphasise the role of researcher as viewer or spectator in the physical or conceptual realisation and reception of the artworks. The expected outcomes of this research project would be in the form of a contemporary exhibition; documentation series of artistic practices using various mediums that will be exhibited collectively and aesthetically in a contemporary manner. This research is an effort to preserve the knowledge and skills of marionette and wayang puppetry as Intangible Cultural Heritage from both Austria and Indonesia, which does not only represent inherited traditions from the past but also contemporary rural and urban practices for future generations.

Kurz-Biographie / Short Bio:
Hanny Wijaya is a Faculty Member and the Head of Internationalization and Partnership at the School of Design, BINUS University, Indonesia. She is actively involved in many art and design projects as both academician and professional. She has also been working on many projects that are intertwined with contemporary art, design, and culture.

Email-Adresse / Email-Address: 
hanny.wijaya@kunstuni-linz.at