What is PESTA BONEKA ?

PESTA BONEKA is Biennale Puppet Festival in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, which is funded and initiated by Papermoon Puppet Theatre.

Bi-annually, Papermoon runs a non-profit festival of puppets named PESTA BONEKA- the Puppet Biennale, as a contribution to the puppetry art. Apart from introducing the puppetry art, which is more just doll for toys or storytelling, the festival also promote intercultural exchange and understanding differences where the artists could presenting performances, making workshops and cooking with community.

Initiated in 2008, PESTA BONEKA has contributed colors in Yogyakarta and Indonesia art events, and has become one of the favored art events among the festivals and art fairs.

Being different with another festival, PESTA BONEKA always bring a different color.

PESTA BONEKA #1 , 2008

The program started with the collaboration of five puppet theater artists and one musician from four countries. They are:

1. Maria Tri Sulistyani (founder, director, puppeteer in Papermoon Puppet Theater – Indonesia).
2. Anne-Sophie (puppeteer, schenographer, costume designer – France).
3. Carla Pedroza Castaneda (puppeteer – Mexico)
4. Iwan Effendi (visual artist, artistic designer of Papermoon Puppet Theatre- Indonesia)
5. Daniele Poidomani (puppets builder, stage designer – Australia)     
6. Carla Ori (music director – Australia)

Some of the artists had worked on workshop process from May 2008 . They made several performances during the workshop, and the final play was performed in December 2008.

PESTA BONEKA #2 , 2010

On PESTA BONEKA #2, we invited more local puppetry artists and only one overseas puppet company. PESTA BONEKA #2 were aimed to bring puppetry closer to the public in the village.

We had one day festival in the village, and 1 month puppet installation exhibition that was fully supported by Tembi Contemporary.