Hand Shadow Puppets Ideas

About Hand Shadow Puppets Ideas Android App

A fun project for middle school students is creating shadow puppets from craft sheet metal. Shadow puppets are a traditional art form in Indonesia (especially Bali and Java) where they are called "Wayang Kulit", and are used to enact plays based upon Hindu religious themes. Students can be shown slides of Indonesian Wayang Kulit, and videos of Wayan Kulit performances, so that they will understand the possibilities in this form of puppet performance. In the Balinese and Javanese versions, one man in a trance state manipulates all the puppets and the performances go on all night long to the accompaniment of hypnotic bell and gong gamelan music. In the school project the puppets are manipulated by the students in a "theater" made from a large cardboard box (such as appliances are shipped in) with a cut-out window covered by a cloth screen which is illuminated from behind by a strong light. The students duck beneath the level of the screen to manipulate the puppets, and the light throws the shadows of the puppets onto the screen.

To make shadow puppets, first draw the separate body pieces on cardboard - body and trunk, arms and hands, and legs and feet; and then cut them out. The arm and leg pieces will be fastened to the body piece with eyelets so the body, arms, and legs can be manipulated separately with thin sticks or rods. Trace around the pattern pieces onto craft metal sheets with a stylus, and cut them out. Hole punches can be used to make holes for eyes, nose, mouth and other features. Indonesian Wayang Kulit are often decorated with very ornate designs of cut-out holes. Use a hole punch on the body, arms, and legs pieces where they will be joined together with eyelets.

The body pieces can also be textured and embossed and facial and body features can be enhanced with paint to make the puppets' appearance more pleasing, even though these details won't be visible to the audience. Since the puppeteers can see them, it makes it easier for the students to get into the spirit of the puppet show. Hair can be fashioned from wires bent to form spirals of different sizes and lengths, and clothing can be made from craft mesh. When the ornamentation is done, the arms and legs are joined to the body with eyelets placed with an eyelet tool, loose enough so that the limbs move freely. Then cut rectangles of craft sheet metal and bend them around the thin sticks or rods to form tubes, and glue the tubes to the hands, feet, and bottom of the puppet. Other tubes of the same diameter are glued to the lower edge of the theater screen to hold the puppets in place while the puppeteers manipulate their hands and feet. It takes a little practice to be able to move the puppets smoothly and realistically, but the students soon get the hang of it.

Shadow puppets made from craft sheet metal and decorated with craft mesh are reminiscent of Balinese and Javanese Wayang Kulit, so this can be a joint art class, English, and social studies assignment. This fun project for middle school students combines craft metal art and theater performance, and brings out the students' creativity and imagination.