Photos: Taiwan’s puppet master determined to save the dying art
Updated On Nov 16, 2018 11:58 AM IST
Taiwanese glove puppeteer Chen Hsi-huang is determined to save the traditional puppetry from disappearing. The art form also known as “Budaixi”, spread to Taiwan in the 19th century and was mainly performed at religious and festive occasions, becoming a popular form of entertainment. With the changing times and people having not much time to spare to watch the shows, puppet master vows to continue performing and promoting the art form as long as he has the strength.
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Updated on Nov 16, 2018 11:58 AM IST
Chen Hsi-huang demonstrates how to use a puppet at the government-funded Puppetry Art Centre in Taipei. At 87 years old, Taiwanese glove puppeteer Chen is the star of a new documentary which reflects his determination to revive the dying traditional craft and a late-life renaissance as a high-profile promoter of the art form. (Sam Yeh / AFP)
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Updated on Nov 16, 2018 11:58 AM IST
A student of Chen displays a craft tiger puppet during the class. The documentary film, entitled “Father”, tells how Chen pursued the craft in the shadow of his father, the legendary puppeteer Li Tian-lu, who drew huge audiences to his shows in the 1950-1970s. The art form also known as “Budaixi”, spread to Taiwan in the 19th century and was mainly performed at religious and festive occasions, becoming a popular form of entertainment. (Sam Yeh / AFP)
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Updated on Nov 16, 2018 11:58 AM IST
Students during the practice session. Puppeteers manoeuvre small glove dolls on ornate wooden stages to present historical and martial arts stories accompanied by live folk music. Chen said he values the traditional puppetry because it is characterised by subtle movements, with the puppeteer taking on all roles, from a young woman to an old man. (Sam Yeh / AFP)
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Updated on Nov 16, 2018 11:58 AM IST
A student practices how to operate a glove puppet. Chen first set up his own troupe at 23 years old but as business declined he was forced to shut shop at 40. At the age of 79, motivated by his desire to stop the art form fading completely in the face of modern entertainment, he set up a new troupe and teaches puppetry at weekend classes as well as taking on apprentices. (Sam Yeh / AFP)
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Dozens of students of all ages attend Chen’s classes at the centre every Saturday. Chen acknowledges the challenges facing the ancient craft, saying people have less time to spare to watch the shows. But he has taken heart from the positive response to the documentary which premiered in Taiwan last month, directed by local filmmaker Yang Li-chou over a period of 10 years. (Sam Yeh / AFP)
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A student makes embroidery of a puppet’s clothes during the class. Chen was worried that people might not understand the film, but young people did, even if they hadn’t watched Budaixi before. Student Hung Wei-heng, 10, said he was interested in learning puppetry because it was “very cool”. (Sam Yeh / AFP)
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A student practices how to operate a glove puppet. Chen’s current apprentice Chen Wei-you is part of a family troupe that runs around 150 puppet shows a year. “My grandfather actually told me to find ‘a better job’ but I chose this career because I am interested,” the 32-year-old told AFP. “Like the master, I don’t want the traditional puppetry to disappear,” he said. (Sam Yeh / AFP)
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Updated on Nov 16, 2018 11:58 AM IST
The sculpture tools and a puppet head displayed during the sculpture class. Taiwanese authorities are trying to promote the traditional craft, organising an annual puppet festival in Yunlin county. (Sam Yeh / AFP)
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Updated on Nov 16, 2018 11:58 AM IST