Wayang is a traditional form of cultural expression originating in Indonesia, particularly in Java. UNESCO has recognized wayang as part of Indonesia’s intangible cultural heritage. There are various types of wayang, including wayang kulit, wayang golek, wayang beber, wayang orang, wayang suket, and many others. One of the oldest and most prominent forms is wayang kulit purwa¹.

Wayang is a performance art that utilizes shadows to tell stories, often based on mythological or local narratives. Among the most frequently featured tales is the Mahabharata. Over time, wayang evolved not only as a theatrical performance, but also as a medium for religious dissemination—most notably by Sunan Kalijaga, who used wayang to spread Islamic teachings.

Wayang Wahyu (Wahyu Puppet) emerged as a medium for spreading Catholicism through wayang performance art. The idea for Wayang Wahyu was sparked when Br. Timotheus L. Wignjosoebroto, FIC, watched a performance by M.M. Atmowiyono—a teacher at Surakarta's Teachers' School 2—who staged a wayang play based on an Old Testament story titled Dawud Mendapat Wahyu Keraton (David Receives Revelation to Become King)². This inspiration led to the formation of a creative team that included M.M. Atmowiyono, Marosudirdjo, A. Suradi, and Roosradi. The team collaboratively developed the format and narrative structure for this Catholic-based puppet show, which was eventually renamed Wayang Wahyu at the suggestion of Soetopranito, SJ.

Wayang Wahyu was first performed on February 2, 1960, at the Purbayan Puteri Vocational School in Solo. Three plays were presented: Angel Revolts, The First Man Falls into Sin, and The Birth of the Lord Jesus Christ³. Several months later, Wayang Wahyu was performed before Mgr. Soegijapranata, SJ, then Bishop of the Diocese of Semarang, who expressed his appreciation and support⁴. After undergoing several revisions, Wayang Wahyu received an Imprimatur from the Church⁵. Today, the Wayang Wahyu collection is housed at the Sonobudoyo Museum in Yogyakarta, displayed in the Thomas Karsten Building and the Hasta Brata Building. ***

Reference:

1 Ajeng Tri Nursanti, “Figur Yesus Dalam Wayang Wahyu: Suatu Kajian Dari Aspek Visualisasinya” / "The Figure of Jesus in Wayang Wahyu: A Study of Its Visualization" in https://digilib.isi.ac.id/1938/6/Jurnal%20-%20Ajeng%20Tri%20Nur%20Santi%20-%2012123250 21.pdf

 2 https://sonobudoyo.jogjaprov.go.id/id/tulisan/read/asal-usul-wayang-wahyu, accessed on July 12, 2025, at 9:32 PM WIB.