Agus Purwantoro Speaking Through Leaves

KOMPAS/REGINA RUKMORINI

Agus Purwantoro

Since 2010, Agus Purwantoro, 60, has chosen leaves as his partner to speak his words. Together with the leaves, he continued going around, doing puppetry and spreading stories about virtues and messages about life.

“Together with the leaves, I am like carrying out a humanitarian mission,” he said after completing the leaves-puppet performance titled “Ijo Royo-royo” in Magelang, Central Java, Saturday (6 / 4/2019). Agus Purwantoro is a lecturer in Arts and Design Studies at Sebelas Maret State University, Surakarta, who is active as a godhong (leaves) puppeteer.

Agus has performed in various places, ranging from events in neighborhoods to the international stage, such as the Wayang Jogja Night Carnival. In 2020, he was invited to open an international art venue in Thailand.

Especially for small events, he does charge fees.

The leaves-puppet performance is different from the wayang kulit show, wayang purwa or other puppet shows. Agus does not change leaves into puppet figures, such as Arjuna or Sukrasana. Agus also did not take the Ramayana or Mahabharata puppet stories. He chooses current issues and adjusts them to each leaf\'s character. He makes a new story for each stage.

In the performance on Saturday, for example, Agus built a narrative about people’s consumptive behavior. When the sales of gelombang cinta (anthurium) plant skyrocketed, people were busy hunting for the plant. When there was information about the efficacy of Moringa leaves, people hunt Moringa leaves.

Agus also talked about the various benefits of leaves, including the gandul leaves that can be used to tender meat. According to Agus, all leaves can indeed be “ordered” or “asked” to give help to nourish or save human life. “Humans can ask for help from the leaves as long as humans want to care for plants that also care for life,” he said.

Tobacco puppet

Agus became a leaves puppeteer in 2010. At that time, he was doing research for his dissertation about tobacco farmers. In the midst of the situation that squeezed farmers, such as the drop in tobacco prices, Agus thought that the tobacco leaves could be a medium of resistance for the tobacco farmers. So, at that time, Agus played tobacco leaves during leaves-puppet show.

By bringing and shaking tobacco leaves, Agus told a story about the tradition of tobacco planting and local wisdom related to tobacco.

Tobacco farmers like the show because they considered it a medium to defend their interests. “They, the farmers, do not call it wayang godhong, but a wayang mbako [tobacco],” he said.

Over time, Agus also added variations to the leaves he used. On every stage, he brings 25 different types of leaves. On the stage, he tells the benefits of each leaf one by one.

Even though the story was created by Agus himself, it does not mean that the story was made carelessly. A week before a performance, Agus usually does research. He usually looks for information on whether there are springs in the area where the stage is located, or a sacred tomb or what the profession is of the majority of the residents there. The results of the research were then made into stories about the benefits of leaves.

KOMPAS/REGINA RUKMORINI

Agus Purwantoro, a godhong (leaf) puppeteer, addresses the audience at a recent performance at the Bakorwil II Kedu complex in Kedu, Magelang city, Central Java

Agus has continued to deepen his knowledge on the puppet shows. Now, he has the knowledge and information regarding the character of the leaves. All information was obtained from residents, elders and community leaders in the villages.

The wayang godhong performance usually only presents a show by Agus who shakes the leaves and tells stories. He never uses the rhythm of tetabuhan or gamelan. In make the stage more alive, he collaborates with other art performances, such as puppet art performances, Javanese arts or kuda lumping (a dance performance that includes an acrobatics show).

The meaning of leaves

Since childhood, Agus has liked art. Some of his relatives are artists. His uncle, for example, works as a puppeteer. Therefore, the world of art is no stranger to Agus. When he was in elementary school, Agus had tried to make and play puppets using cassava leaves. Now, he has returned to leaves.

Agus deliberately chose leaves as a means of speaking because the leaves are attached to everyday life and traditions. Many stories of local wisdom are related to leaves. One of them is the Javanese people\'s past habits when holding a celebration. They often use four different types of leaves to cover the rice bowl,

which represent prayers and expectations from the ritual that is being organized. The use of leaves shows the totality and sincerity of the people in prayer.

By telling of all the functions and benefits of leaves, he hopes to grow the people’s love for leaves and plants. “I try to raise the awareness that everyone can build relationships and mutual symbioses with leaves and plants,” he said.

Along with that, he also wished that the stories he conveyed could foster a sense of love for the environment and deep concern for the survival of plants. He hoped people will care for plants in their house.

Agus Purwantoro

Born: Temanggung, Aug. 13, 1958

Wife: Rina Setyaningsih (54)

Children:

- KA Rarasasri (34)

- Panji J Anggono (32)

- Sekar Titis Gumilang (29)

- Pandu Bagas Setyaji (26)

- Dadun Tanggon Wisanggeni (23)

Education:

S-3 Indonesia Arts Institute (ISI)

Yogyakarta.

E-mail: [e-mail].