Malaysian shadow puppet enthusiast hopes robotics can save ancient art

Ahnaf Hakimi assembles his animatronic 'wayang kulit' or shadow puppetry at his studio in Bayan Lepas, Penang. Photo: Reuters

Malaysian college lecturer Ahnaf Hakimi Ahmad hopes to save the ancient tradition of shadow puppetry using 3D-printed figures controlled by robotics instead of people.

"Wayang kulit", a theatrical art form once popular across South-East Asia, particularly in Malaysia and Indonesia, is traditionally performed with figurines crafted from buffalo skin, whose shadows are cast onto a screen. Then there are also lengthy rehearsals among dozens of artists.