Page 4 | Topeng - masks of Central Java

Gagahan masks

Contents

Topeng - masks of Central Java (1)

Basic iconography (2)

Alus masks (3)

Gagahan masks (4)

Characters (5)

The spirit of the mask (6)

In performance (7)

Seleh Notes Volume 1 Number 2 March 1994

© By Jo Shaw

Moving on to the gagahan masks, these too reflect the iconography of the puppets.

Round staring eyes, wide blunt noses, bold toothy smiles and lots of facial hair are the predominant features.

Gagahan mask - Klana. See also page 1.

The basic facial colour is strong and the most commonly performed, and favourite gagah character, King Klana, is a bright choleric red, with a fine handlebar moustache.

The decorative headdress is much the same with perhaps more vigorously curling hair, and the overall facial shape is more rounded.

Much of the effect gained by these masks is aided by the elaborate hair and headdresses worn with them.

Klana has a large headdress with plenty of hair, and the most aggressive raksasa (ogres) have immense wigs of matted hair to rival any rastafarian.

Again, the make-up applied by gagah dancers strives for the same effects.

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