Shadow puppetry, known as wayang kulit, becomes latest controversy in Indonesia-Malaysia cultural heritage dispute
- Sportswear giant Adidas’ latest shoe collection prompted a backlash from Indonesians over the origins of the art form wayang kulit, or shadow puppetry
- Indonesians and Malaysians have clashed over matters of cultural heritage and identity, with previous tussles focused on rendang and folk songs in tourism campaigns
The brand’s faux pas, which has reignited an age-old dispute between the two countries about cultural heritage and identity, came during Adidas Singapore’s launch of a new collection of shoes which it has produced in collaboration with artists from across Southeast Asia.
In a promotional video for one of the shoes, which features a wayang kulit character and was designed by the Malaysian artist Jaemy Choong, a caption urges viewers to “celebrate Malaysia’s cultural heritage” through the artist’s eyes and claims the design pays “homage to wayang kulit, a significant part of Malaysia’s cultural identity and heritage”.
Indonesia’s internet users have a reputation for being swift to react when matters of national pride are at stake and the latest controversy is just the latest in a long line of disagreements over matters of shared cultural heritage. In recent years there have been tussles about the origins of dishes such as rendang (a meat dish cooked with coconut milk and spices); the use of an Indonesian folk song and mask dance in a Malaysian tourism campaign; and batik, the art of decorating textiles with wax and dye.