Telling Stories Through Objects - Brooklyn Children's Museum

■ INFORMATION FOR THE TEACHER ■
Information About the Objects in the Case (continued)
the present day. They are one of China’s many
unique inventions, and countless writers and artists
have used them to create great works of literature
and art. See the story “The Dreaming Prince,” page 32.
SHADOW PUPPET (Object No. 75.16.2)
Indonesia (Java), 1970s
Puppet performance is a type
of theater common in many
Southeast Asian countries.
Each country or region has its
own traditions and a unique
style of puppets. In Indonesia,
these performances are put
on with shadow puppets
called wayang kulit. Many puppet performances tell
stories of Hindu or Islamic heroes and legends. They
may be performed for many different purposes, such
as to celebrate a wedding or observe the anniversary
of a funeral. Wayang plays captivate children and
adults alike, teaching them about their heritage and
affirming the moral and cultural values of
Indonesian society. Read the book Rama and Sita: A
Tale from Ancient Java provided in the case.
Wayang kulit are made from animal skins decorated
with gold leaf and paint. The dalang (puppeteer)
supports the puppet with a wooden rod attached to
the body, while two smaller rods attached to the
hands allow the puppets to express a wide range of
gestures and emotions. Plays are performed behind
a transparent screen backlit with small lamps. A
typical dalang might have between 100 and 300
shadow puppets in his set. The costumes, hairdos,
facial features, and colors of the puppets identify the
standard characters they represent, from princesses
and warriors to clowns and scheming courtiers, and
even the gods themselves. For example, this puppet
is a female figure whose gold face and body represent
either dignity or youth. Her refined features
indicate that she is an aristocratic or morally good
character, but the story that goes with her is
unknown. She might be used to represent Sita, wife
of Prince Rama, the hero of the Ramayana, a very
long and very old Indian poem.
TELLING STORIES THROUGH OBJECTS 7
KIWI FIGURE (Object No. 2006.15)
The kiwi is a small, flightless
bird that lives in the forests,
grasslands, and swamps of
New Zealand. It is a beloved
national symbol of that country,
whose residents commonly
refer to themselves as kiwis.
The kiwi is also a prominent
character in the mythology of the Maori people
(native new Zealanders). According to many Maori
traditions, kiwis are the oldest members of the bird
family, so they are, in effect, our older siblings. Kiwis
are said to be very protective of humans, which is
why they patrol the forests each night. See the story
“How the Kiwi Lost Its Wings,” page 36.
BARK PAINTING (Object No. 65.52.4)
Australia, about 1964
The aboriginal peoples of
Arnhem Land (an area of
northern Australia) paint
pictures on bark cut from the
eucalyptus tree. Using paintbrushes
made of human hair
or twigs with chewed ends,
the artist works in shades of
black, red, yellow, and white with paints made from
ground-up minerals. This painting was made by a
man from the Ingura tribe, and depicts a group of
men dancing next to the fish they have speared.
Any Ingura man may paint pictures of non-religious
activities such as hunting, fishing, or historical events.
The Ingura people hang these paintings inside their
homes and use them to educate young people about
hunting and fishing practices, ancient feats, and
traditional stories. The Ingura also create secret,
sacred paintings depicting the ancient spirits of their
creation story.
There is no specific story to go with this object.
Students can make up their own, or do research and
write a report on aboriginal people and their lives.