UNS — It has been more than a year that the Covid-19 pandemic occurs in Indonesia. However, the improving condition seems to get even further away with the unending pandemic. Exhaustion and fatigue have crept into the nation following the shift from offline activities into online activities. The lack of direct interaction raises concern for a crisis. Cultural media is needed to refresh people’s minds to solve the psychological crisis due to the pandemic.
Art Creation Research Group of the Faculty of Art and Design (FSRD) Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) Surakarta fully aware of this condition. Their respective team tried to create cultural media to improve people’s productive and creative awareness in surviving this pandemic. Their efforts brought Wayang Godhong (Leaves Puppet) show titled “Singkir Pageblug” (eliminate pandemic) into realization.
Wayang Godhong “Singkir Pageblug” is a study proposed by Dr. Agus Purwantoro, M.Sn., he was assisted by his team members Dyah Yuni Kurniawati, S.Sn., M.Sn., and Yayan Suherlan, S.Sn., M.Sn., as the Faculty Members of Fine Arts Program FSRD, UNS. Dr. Agus Purwantoro explained that Singkir Pagebluk is the title of Wayang Godhong, a shamanic art amid the Covid-19 pandemic. “Rengeng-rengeng (chants) through rites aims for self–healing for the community to face a crisis caused by the pandemic,” Dr. Agus Purwantoro, who often called Gus Pur, wrote.
“Singkir Pageblug” Wayang Godhong show was broadcasted offline and online from SMK Satya Pratama Hall with 50 viewers from MA An Nawawi Kepil Wonosobo and SMK Satya Pratama, Salaman, Magelang students under a strict health protocol on Sunday (27/6/2021). The show was opened with a skilled performance from Gus Pur under candlelight lighting. The story was continued by other actors who played their respective parts.
The theatrical performance raised social concerns in the community, such as educational boredom without classroom meetings and boring stay-at-home activities. The performance showed positive and negative rooms in which Gus Pur filled each room with related stories. The negative room was filled with complaints and boredom, while the positive room was filled with prayers to God for ending the ravaging pandemic. In the closing, Gus Pur invited his audiences to perform collective self-healing as not staying in boredom for too long.
This performance was not the first as Dr. Agus Purwanto firstly promoted it in 2010. The idea of this puppet show came from his empathy for the resistance of tobacco farmers. Dr. Agus created wayang from tobacco leaves with various shapes with the hope that it will trigger people’s awareness to value nature. Before this performance, wayang godhong was also performed in the UNS 39th Anniversary Celebration in 2015, telling the story of “Banaspati Nandang Sungkowo” (Banaspati in his sadness). Humas UNS/Ida Fitriyah