Wayang Golek by Melcyana: Reviving the Fading Traditional Indonesian Puppet Art for Today’s Audiences

Melcyana is a young entrepreneur and wayang golek craftsman from Sumedang, Indonesia. Inspired by her childhood memories spent watching local wayang golek shows with her late grandfather, Melcyana decided to make it her life’s work to preserve and share the fading art of crafting traditional Indonesian marionettes. Traditionally, wayang goleks were used to perform Hindu epics, Javanese legends, Islamic Menmaks and even local humorous folktales to the masses. Melcyana is rejuvenating the art form by using it to convey the inspiring lives of contemporary icons—such as musicians, actors, athletes, and even renowned politicians. 

Melcyana ensures that she crafts traditional wayang golek puppets alongside contemporary figures so that she can introduce their stories and the life lessons gleaned from them to a whole new generation. On top of that, she makes fusion wayang goleks, where she crafts today’s icons or everyday people wearing traditional wayang golek garments. All of this is why the wayang golek crafted by Melcyana aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal of Reduced Inequalities.

During her grandfather’s time, Melcyana’s hometown in Sumedang used to be a center for wayang golek craftsmanship. Today, some of these craftsmen and women remain, although they face severely dwindling demands, which means that they have had to find alternative sources of income. Hence, when Melcyana first started, her goal was to connect local craftsmen in her village with a global audience by building them an online presence. In an interview with TVRI, one of the craftsmen who work with her, Tuti, a former garment worker, shares how she has really appreciated being able to work on the craft from home.

Melcyana’s work in wayang golek breathes new life into Indonesia’s traditional puppet art by blending cultural heritage with contemporary themes. By creating both traditional and fusion puppets, she bridges the past and present, honouring age-old stories while making wayang golek relevant to today’s audiences. As she showcases modern icons and promotes local artisans, she is not only preserving this fading art form but also supporting her community, creating economic opportunities, and fostering cultural pride. Her efforts celebrate both Indonesian culture and craftsmanship on a global stage.

Find out more about Wayang Golek by Melcyana on her Instagram @wayang.melcyana or YouTube.