One of the shadow devices intricately carved from water buffalo leather by artist Eko Nugroho for his production “In the Name of Semelah” performed by Wayang Bocor theatre company, at Carolina Performing Arts 1/20/17. Photo courtesy CPA.

OK, y’all. The time soon is coming when we will be severely restricted as to what artists we may see and hear from countries with Islamic cultures. Take advantage while you can.

A week ago, Carolina Performing Arts presented an amazing multimedia shadow play by an Indonesian contemporary artist, Eko Nugroho, in which peaceful Islam comes to Indonesia, bringing wisdom and kindness to a place where the existing Hindu kingdom has become corrupt and “hunger and poverty [had] spread throughout the kingdom and society was in chaos.” (Sound familiar?)

The story was told was incredible artistry, and afterwards, the audience (more than 1000) had the opportunity to go up onto the stage, behind the scrim and play with the shadow puppets! and talk with the artist–who was looking a little stunned, because usually a large show for him is a couple hundred people. It was totally wonderful.

Indonesian artist Eko Nugroho backstage with his brilliant shadow puppets, after the performance. Photo courtesy CPA.

The show, and the one tonight, are part of CPA’s Sacred/Secular: A Sufi Journey series. You think such a thing will happen next year, or the year after that, or the next one? Even artists must have visas.

So: tonight, Friday January 27, 8 pm in the newly renovated Hill Hall auditorium, now named for former Chancellor Moeser–a mask dancer from Java, Nani. She’s a 7th generation dancer of the Topeng Losari, mask dances. Whether you go for the dancing, the mysticism, the masks or the gorgeous Javanese cloth, get up and go. We will not see the likes of this again any time soon.

As of 11 a.m., general admission tickets were still available. Entrance to Hill Hall from the main UNC quad.

Nani, in Topeng Losari. Photo courtesy CPA.