The National Taiwan Museum (NTM) is hosting the exhibition “Puppets: Expression of Culture (偶・多元文化之身)” until Aug. 31. This exhibition features over 10,000 puppetry artifacts donated by Lin Ching-fu (林經甫), chairman of the Taiyuan Arts and Culture Foundation (台原藝術文化基金會), showcasing the diversity and inclusivity of puppetry traditions worldwide.
The exhibition was inaugurated on Jan. 6, with the presence of Culture Minister Li Yuan, NTM Director Chen Teng-chin (陳登欽), and other distinguished guests.
Minister Li noted that he grew up watching glove puppetry, which served as an important form of entertainment for older generations in Taiwan. He emphasized the government’s commitment to supporting traditional arts and fostering their continued growth.
Through its title, “Puppets: Expression of Culture,” the exhibition shows how puppets embody various cultural identities shaped by their regional contexts.
The NTM highlighted that 34 puppets from around the world were selected for display, representing the depth and variety of Lin’s collection. Additionally, the exhibition offers interactive physical and virtual experiences, allowing visitors to manipulate puppets either directly or digitally. A unique feature of the exhibition is “Sangkala Vedeh,” a performance blending traditional shadow puppetry with “Star Wars” characters, created by Fusion Wayang Kulit, a Malaysian puppetry troupe.
In conjunction with the opening of the exhibition, the NTM also launched the third and fourth volumes in its puppetry books series. These publications explore the beauty of puppetry culture across different regions through curated photographs and research articles.
For more information, visit the NTM website.
