SHAH ALAM — What if your morning juice carton or a discarded delivery box could become the hero of an epic tale?
This May, the Wayang Wanita Forum invites you to trade the spectator’s seat for the maker’s bench at a unique Puppet-Making Workshop led by acclaimed artist and educator Fairuz Sulaiman.
Scheduled for May 17 at National Art Gallery, this session is far from a traditional leather-carving class.
Instead, it’s a masterclass in "Wayang TEK-tek" — a contemporary approach to puppetry that empowers individuals through recycled materials and collective storytelling.
Fairuz Sulaiman is a name synonymous with digital and analog fusion in the Malaysian arts scene. A co-founder of Sekolah Main Wayang, Fairuz has spent years using puppetry as a tool for community-based education.
His work, which has earned him the BOH Cameronian Arts Award, often integrates real-time color tracking and animation with the ancient mechanics of shadow play.
The Workshop Experience
Participants will embark on a 2-hour creative journey:
- The Intro: See samples of what’s possible when tradition meets upcycling.
- The Demo: Learn the basic mechanics that bring a flat puppet to life.
- Free Building: Guided by experts, you'll use corrugated board, sachets, plastic wrappers, and bubble wrap to construct your own character.
- Improv: An optional chance to see your creation dance behind the screen.
At only RM20 for students (and RM70 for the general public), this workshop is part of a broader effort to make the arts accessible to everyone.
Running from 12.30pm to 3pm, it fits perfectly into a day of exploration at the National Art Gallery.
Tickets are available now via CloudJoi.