The Application of Shadow Puppet Engraving Art in Wall Decorating Product Design

Abstract

     This study is a part of the research titled Shadow Puppet Product Design and Development for the Improvement of Shadow Puppet Entrepreneurs in Nakhon Si Thammarat Province.The objectives of the study are to 1) investigate the shadow puppet carving art in Nakhon Si Thammarat, and 2) to design wall decorating products that represent the identity of shadow puppet carving art. Data was collected through observations and interviews from three groups of shadow puppet entrepreneurs: 1) Shadow Puppet Carving Community Enterprise, 2) Rak Khon Shadow Puppet Carving Community Enterprise, and 3) Suchart Sapsin Shadow Puppet Museum. The study's findings show that: 1) the technique on the shadow puppet is engraved and hammered by an engraving knife and an instrument called Toodtoo or Mook; 2) most of the patterns are engraved based on the ideas, doctrines, or stories that the shadow puppet masters used in their shows; the researchers created the shadow puppets based on the Buddhism concept of Four Kinds of Lotuses, which is a metaphor for four types of people; and 3) copper is an easy-to-find material that can be utilized as a substitute for tri-color gold to reflect Thai identity in the shadow puppet engraving process. The researchers were successful in creating a pattern of shadow puppet wall decorating products based on the Four Kinds of Lotuses. According to the results of the consumer evaluation, the shadow puppet engraving technique precisely expressed the identity of the shadow puppet engraving art. Copper is the best material for engraving technique since it is practically identical to cow leather in terms of impact resistance and product formation; also, copper contributes to the value addition of shadow puppet wall decorating products