The use of symbols is possibly one of the unique features of Anaphoria's Shadow Theatre. While the meaning of each symbol is rarely publically shared, they are understood as being invocative in nature.
The symbols themselves exist on the borders of the organic and inorganic, the geometrical and the free form, as well as the microcosmic and macrocosmic. All are thought as being alive in some manner. In the case of this "flower" one is not sure if it is such or a microorganism.
A flower symbol exhibiting a spiral growth pattern.
Geometrical and botanical symmetries articulated by an endless loop with 11 crossings.
A form tulip-like, or human, or even possibly with a central flame from a single endless loop
A different cellular layer develops from a central core
A cellular commune of stability
Diffenentiation develops within a single radiating being
A pod shielding emergent growth
Forest Spirits. The branch has been also used to suspend the Spirit of Elders
A disc of balance between inscribed diverse forces
A sphere as the intersection of dual discs
The Wheel of New Energy
The Whirling Forces of The Atmosphere
The Columns of Insight
The Mortar
The Marker of a Meeting Post
The Cycle of Rapid Change
The Eternal Flame [used by spinning]
The Five Spoked Star
The Seven Pointed Star
The Winged Spirit
The Steady Star
Geometrical Solids
The Ouroborus
The Pennant of Identity
Cosmic Wheels
A Guiding Candle
A Benevolent Comet Wand
Chaos
The Three Arm Spirit of Interruption
The Bee
The Bowerbird that Collects
Copan, the double-headed snake
The Winged Bull
The Rhino of the Lost Horn
The Dodo Bird [the clips here and elsewhere
allow the puppet to carry objects]
The Mythical Bird of the Spinning Five Rings
A Cat on top of a Dog
The Camel
The Crab [one of the oldest shadow puppets of the Theatre]
Thoth, the Scribe
The Fiery Fu Dog [closed mouth]
The Fiery Fu Dog [open mouth]
The Frog [sometimes carrying a coin]
The Shy Eel
The Heron [the clip allows attachments]
The Silent Raven
The Gabby Raven [closed mouth]
The Gabby Raven [open mouth]
The Goat in the Tree
The Snail
The Melancholy Fish [new, see below]
The Melancholy Fish [old, mouth open]. First puppet made for this Theatre.
The Melancholy Fish [old, mouth open]. First puppet made for this Theatre.
The Plump Fish [clips enable a character to change into this shape and attach their head]
The Angry Ragged Bird
The Sphinx or the Reverse Centaur
The Mother Gorilla
The Gorilla Child
The Shoe Thrower
The Aristocrat
Aurora, the young traveller [Pleiades in her hair]
Sarwito, female spy and clown [modelled after versions of this Balinese character]
The Acrobats [Nuit on the bottom]
Teff, the philosopher [her 'basket' is based on the brain]
Momoa, the refugee with child
Momoa, the refugee with child [attachment]
The Pirate
The Doctor
The Photographer
Shiva [with movable arms and legs]
Bardine [possibly the first pregnant female puppet]
Bardo [based on various versions of Balinese Bagong puppet]
The Prisoner [via Abu Ghraib]
Talok [based on the Thai clown}
Old Talok or Talok's Father [variation on Talok above]
Spirit of Time
Hunter or Militiaman [variation on Malaysian puppet]
Hunter or Militiaman [other view]
The Rice Farmer or Field Worker
The Beggar or Harry Partch
The Sly Brother
The Spirit of the Brook
The Prison Guard [Thai source] with Nike shoes
The Rock Hoodlum [Javanese source]
The Strange Yogi [Balinese source]
The Strange Yogi [different position, Balinese source]
Karagoz [name means "Black Eye", both Greek and Turkish origins]
Ruesi, Thai hermit and wiseman. A sea captain in Anaphoria
Security Police with Security Dog
Julian Assange, or the Messenger
The Burnt Old Man
Judge Gill O'Tine
Marat or Madman in Straight Jacket
Alien One
Alien Two
The Ancient Diver
The Bandit or the Warrior
The Orator or the Salesman
Pestimon, the Evil Chief [Javanese sources]
The Protesting Mob
Empire Crowd Control
The Log
The Bucket
The Cauldron
The Cart
Miniature version of Bardo and Bardine in cart.
Used to show them at a distance
Miniature Sampan for distance
Sampan with attachable characters
The Tree Of Prudence
The Tree of Revelation
