Museum Wayang Beber Sekartaji is a cultural museum located in Kanutan, Sumbermulyo, Bambanglipuro, Bantul, Yogyakarta, Indonesia. It is recognized as the first museum in the world dedicated exclusively to Wayang Beber, a traditional Indonesian form of puppet storytelling expressed through long painted scrolls.
Wayang Beber itself is an ancient narrative art form in which a storyteller (dalang) unrolls and displays scroll paintings while narrating the story, often encompassing moral lessons, epic tales, and local wisdom passed down through generations.
Museum Type and Management
The Museum Wayang Beber Sekartaji is classified as a general museum with a specialized focus on cultural heritage and performing arts. Its collections include ancient and modern Wayang Beber scrolls, historic manuscripts, lontar texts, and other traditional artifacts that document the evolution of Wayang Beber over centuries.
Unlike conventional museums that display static objects, this museum also places strong emphasis on storytelling, performance spaces, and interactive exhibitions that bring Wayang Beber to life for visitors.
The museum is owned by the Yayasan Museum Wayang Beber Sekartaji foundation and is managed by Trias who oversees daily operations, preservation of collections, and the planning of exhibitions and community programs.
The management works closely with artists and cultural workers dedicated to safeguarding this rare traditional art form and sharing it with both local and international audiences.
History of the Museum
Museum Wayang Beber Sekartaji was founded on October 1, 2017, by cultural enthusiast Indra Suroinggeno. The museum was officially inaugurated by Drs. H. Suharsono, Regent of Bantul, marking a significant milestone in preserving Wayang Beber heritage.
The museum’s name Sekartaji is derived from a Javanese condrosengkala phrase “Semedi Cakra Jawata Aji,” which encodes the year 1951 in the Javanese calendar, equivalent to 2017 in the Gregorian calendar, and symbolically refers to a meditative journey toward supreme creative energy.
Today, the museum holds approximately 350 cultural artifacts, including scroll paintings by noted Wayang Beber artists such as Tugiman Hadisuwarno, Hermin Istiariningsih, Dani Iswardana, Seruni Bodjawati, and others who have contributed to keeping this traditional art form vibrant.
The museum features thematic spaces such as the Performance Room (Ruang Sabda), Storage Room (Ruang Palon), and Manuscript Room (Ruang Serat), designed to preserve and showcase different aspects of the Wayang Beber tradition.
Vision of the Museum
The vision of Museum Wayang Beber Sekartaji is to preserve Wayang Beber as an esteemed cultural masterpiece of the Indonesian archipelago, promoting appreciation of its stories, artistry, and symbolic meanings across generations.
Mission of Museum Wayang Beber Sekartaji
To realize this vision, the museum pursues several core missions:
- Safeguard and conserve Wayang Beber as an enduring art and cultural legacy.
- Develop the art form in ways that remain relevant while honoring tradition.
- Expose Wayang Beber to worldwide audiences as a window into Indonesia’s rich cultural past.
- Organize educational and performance programs that deepen understanding and engagement.
Museum Wayang Beber Sekartaji, A Living Legacy of Traditional Art
Museum Wayang Beber Sekartaji stands as a unique cultural institution where visitors can explore the ancient art of Wayang Beber, encounter centuries-old scroll paintings, and learn about the narrative traditions that shape Indonesia’s cultural identity. Through its collections, performances, and educational programs, the museum serves as a bridge between past and present, ensuring that this precious form of storytelling lives on.
