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A Life in Shadows: Shadow theatre in South East Asia by Constantine Korsovitis at Abbey's Bookshop,
A Life in Shadows: Shadow theatre in South East Asia
— —
Constantine Korsovitis

A Life in Shadows

Shadow theatre in South East Asia

Constantine Korsovitis

$75

Paperback

Not in-store but you can order this
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English
River Books
01 June 2025
Performance art; Puppetry, miniature & toy theatre
Through documentary photography, A Life in Shadows by Constantine Korsovitis, illustrates the sophistication and value of shadow theater and its creators.

One of the oldest storytelling traditions, shadow theatre combines puppetry with music, philosophy, history, storytelling, fashion, ritual, religion, and education.

While each nation in Southeast Asia has its own distinct culture, shadow theatre is a shared theme. Many of the masters make their own puppets, play all the musical instruments, learn long texts in ancient languages, sing, study movement, and perform for long period of time in what is one of the most difficult and challenging art forms. Most of the performers are farmers, fisherman, factory workers, or teachers by day and artists by night.

Through documentary photography, A Life in the Shadows by Constantine Korsovitis, illustrates the sophistication and value of shadow theatre and its creators, and the author has been capturing the spirit and multiplicity of shadow theatre since 1999 in Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and Cambodia, the common thread being the use of the Hindu epics of the Ramayana and the Mara Mahabharata as a source stories.

AUTHOR: Sydney-based documentary photographer Constantine Korsovitis has a Masters degree in Documentary Photography from Sydney University and a Diploma of Photography from TAFE NSW. He has regularly exhibited his works both within Australia and Internationally. He is an active participant in the Sydney music scene and a regular contributor to the Australian free Press. He has worked on some of Australia's largest festivals including Days Like This, Big Day Out, All Tomorrows Parties, Harvest, Good Vibrations, Parklife and Subsonic. During his overseas travels he developed a strong interest in traditional theatre which led into a long term project of documenting, shadow puppetry throughout Southeast Asia. Korsovitis spent five years travelling around Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia and Cambodia to capture and interview puppet masters, musicians and craftsmen for his project. The result, ""A Life Of Shadows"", exhibited at the Ratchadamnoen Contemporary Art Centre in 2018.

SELLING POINTS: .

One of the oldest storytelling traditions, shadow theatre combines puppetry with music, philosophy, history, storytelling, fashion, ritual, religion, and education .

A Life in the Shadows by Constantine Korsovitis, illustrates the sophistication and value of shadow theatre and its creators
By:  
Imprint:   River Books
Country of Publication:   Thailand
Dimensions:   Height: 230mm,  Width: 250mm,  Spine: 20mm
Weight:   1.028kg
ISBN:   9786164510845
ISBN 10:   6164510848
Pages:   202
Publication Date:  
Audience:   General/trade ,  ELT Advanced
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Unspecified
FOREWORD 9 INTRODUCTION 18 CHAPTER 1 | Thailand 26 Interview with Narong Chanpum 68 CHAPTER 2 | Malaysia 72 Interview with Pak Nawi 106 CHAPTER 3 | Indonesia 112 Interview with Ki Purbo Asmoro 148 CHAPTER 4 | Cambodia 156 Interview with Mann Kosal 186 GLOSSARY 191 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 195 IN MEMORIAM 198

Sydney-based documentary photographer Constantine Korsovitis has a Masters degree in Documentary Photography from Sydney University and a Diploma of Photography from TAFE NSW. He has regularly exhibited his works both within Australia and Internationally. He is an active participant in the Sydney music scene and a regular contributor to the Australian free Press. He has worked on some of Australia’s largest festivals including Days Like This, Big Day Out, All Tomorrows Parties, Harvest, Good Vibrations, Parklife and Subsonic. During his overseas travels he developed a strong interest in traditional theatre which led into a long term project of documenting, shadow puppetry throughout Southeast Asia. Korsovitis spent five years travelling around Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia and Cambodia to capture and interview puppet masters, musicians and craftsmen for his project. The result, ""A Life Of Shadows"", exhibited at the Ratchadamnoen Contemporary Art Centre in 2018.

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