Bandung, January 2025 – A research team from the Library and Information Science (PSI) Program, Faculty of Communication Sciences, Universitas Padjadjaran, has received a research grant from the Directorate General of Higher Education (Dikti) to develop an artificial intelligence (AI)-based model for cultural preservation. This study focuses on the digitization of wayang golek, a traditional Sundanese puppet theater recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage since 2003.
The project is led by Dr. Ute Lies Siti Khadijah, Dr. Elnovani Lusiana, Rahmat Alfin Valentino, M.I.Kom., and Lutfi Khoirunisa, M.I.Kom., with the participation of students Silmi Syahra Shaumi, Muhammad Ryananda Yusmayana, Winnuar Dwina Novarani, Annisya Disa Astrina, and Irham Hanif Nabawi.
The research responds to the critical decline in wayang golek preservation. According to data from the Cultural Preservation Center Region IX (2023), the number of active wayang groups in Bandung has dropped from 53 in 2012 to just 29 in 2022. Moreover, a survey by the Bandung City Tourism and Culture Office (2023) revealed that only 12% of young people (aged 18–30) had attended a wayang performance in the past five years.
To address this issue, the study seeks to strengthen the role of memory institutions—libraries, archives, and museums—in preserving intangible cultural heritage through AI-based digitization. The research employs a mixed-method approach, combining in-depth interviews, participatory observation, community surveys, and AI system testing, supported by action research to directly involve cultural stakeholders.
The scope of the project includes documenting performances, classifying wayang elements, and developing an interactive digital platform that enables wider public access to cultural knowledge. The initiative also promotes collaboration with puppet masters, art studios, and memory institutions in West Java to ensure sustainable implementation.
This effort aligns with SDG 4 (Quality Education) by strengthening cultural literacy among younger generations, while also supporting SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) through the innovative use of AI in cultural heritage preservation. Through this research, the team aims not only to sustain wayang golek as a tradition but also to transform it into a digital cultural legacy that resonates with contemporary society.
With this initiative, Universitas Padjadjaran reaffirms its commitment to providing real solutions for cultural preservation challenges while enhancing Indonesia’s role in safeguarding the diversity of world cultural heritage. (SNA)
