Slamet Gundono

Who is Slamet Gundono?

Slamet Gundono is an Indonesian modern puppeteer in wayang and artist. He was born on June 19, 1966, in Slawi, the capital of the Tegal Regency.

Traditionally, wayang is linked with drinking and debauchery, which initially was a reason for Gundono not to feel attacked to this kind of shadow theater. During his study at a madrassa in Lebaksiu though, his interest was rekindled, and in 1997 he staged his first grass puppet show in Riau.

In 1999 he finished his study in Puppetry at the Art Academy in Surakarta, also known as Solo, which is called Institute Seni Indonesia nowadays. The same year he founded his theater company in Surakarta, called Sanggar Wayang Suket, which means translated: Grass Puppet Studio. Here he developed the wayang puppetry that had not developed in the country for a long time.

Within several years, the artist with a weight of 150 kg grew to be an icon in the wayang suket. In the meantime, Gundono stages worldwide and received several prices, among which a Prince Claus Award from the Netherlands in 2005.