Wayang Kulit Master Pok Chu @ Petaling Street Art House (2)

Date: 11th July 2014 Petaling Street welcomed wayang kulit practitioner Pok Chu for his first performance there on July 11th. Pok Chu is remarkable as he is the only master of the ancient storytelling craft that is of Chinese ethnicity. Having dedicated over 30 years to the development of the artform, Pok Chu is regarded as highly as his fellow masters. Pok Chu first encounter with wayang kulit occurred while he was 12 years old, and it became a big part of his life ever since. His style of wayang kulit is entirely self-learnt, with the music accompaniment a unique mixture of Chinese and Malay influences. Pok Chu established his own wayang kulit troupe in 1978, and, after over 30 years in the scene, was recognized as a living national heritage by the Malaysian government in 2012. During his day at Petaling Street Pok Chu also conducted workshops to teach the art of wayang kulit to all those who were interested. With the introduction of modern forms of entertainment such as the Internet, television and radio, traditional performances have taken a backseat in today's modern lifestyle. Although less common these days, traditional shows are still nevertheless strong expression of a particular culture. Some have withstood the test of time and are still going strong today. Wayang Kulit is one such activity which holds great prominence in many South East Asian cultures (including Malaysia), having entertained a great number of people since its introduction to the region around two thousand years ago. It is currently still practiced in Malaysia, particularly in the states of Kelantan, Kedah, Perlis and Terengganu. Wayang Kulit usually becomes one of the cultural highlight when travelling to Kelantan, Malaysia. For more on this article please log on to http://www.mana.my