Shadow puppetry in Phnom Penh

The ancient art of storytelling through shadow puppetry, where cut-out figures are held between a light source and a translucent screen, was on full display in Phnom Penh this week. Preforming arts group Kok Thlok Association made its sbek thom, the Khmer term for shadow puppetry, debut on Wednesday at the National Library of Cambodia and performed episodes of the Reamker, a traditional Cambodian poem based on the Sanskrit epic Ramayana. 
 

The troupe performed two episodes from Reamker which, like the original Ramayana, tells the classic tale of good triumphing over evil through vivid characters such as Prince Rama, Queen Sita and monkey god Hanuman.  The exact origin of the art form is unclear, with some accounts stating that it started more than 1,000 years ago in China or India, while others insist its roots date further back in Southeast Asia. However, what art critics can agree on is its ornate and vivid storytelling capabilities. 
 

With nothing more than an intricately designed puppet against a white screen, the life and animation of the characters are often left to the artists controlling them, who must be skilled both physically and vocally to effectively portray each character.  Coupled with the necessity for puppeteers to coordinate with one another to ensure that audiences are transfixed on the puppets rather than those who control them, the complex art form has earned a unique reputation in the performing arts world.

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