Above is a picture of a traditional Wayang Kulit puppet from Indonesia.The term Wayang derives from the Indonesian word for shadow, Bayang, due to the traditional practice of utilizing these puppets to produce shadow theater. These puppets have a longstanding history throughout the various islands of Indonesia dating as far back as the 800’s. Because it was widely believed that the puppets were able to be temporarily inhabited by ancestral spirits during performances, the shows were held at the cemeteries where the founders of each village were buried. Each founder is believed to have a particular puppet character that they prefer and that they will choose repeatedly to perform through. The Wayang Kulit puppets were originally produced from water buffalo hide, but are more typically produced from metal currently. Each Puppet is intricately carved and painted before being welded to thin metal posts that can then be held by the puppeteer during shows. When not being used for a performance, the puppets regularly serve as beautiful decorations within homes and performance centers. Growing up, my family had many Wayang puppets throughout our house as decoration and although they can look a bit frightening, they are also quite beautiful and served as a great reminder of traditions that my ancestors held dear.