Puppet storyteller

“Puppets are small but can tell big stories if the artist puts his heart into them,” artist Duong Van Hoc emotionally shared at the exhibition “Duong Van Hoc – The Puppet Storyteller” at the Hanoi Museum. His confession seems to tell of an artistic world where puppets are not mindless, but whisper stories of life, people, and carry the depth of Vietnamese culture.

Entering the exhibition space, visitors are captivated by the diverse appearance of the puppets. Each puppet has a shape, encapsulating a story waiting for the interlocutor. In the area of ​​“Puppets telling Vietnamese cultural stories”, the work “Central Highlands Dance” leaves a strong impression on viewers. 3 puppets in the costumes of young women of the great forest seem to bring the scent of the mountains and forests with the echoing sound of gongs, along with the Central Highlands dance imbued with the identity of the bustling heart of the capital.

The puppet work “Rowing” seems to hold the audience in its warmth with the image of a couple rowing oars to overcome the waves, recalling the proverb “When husband and wife are in harmony, the East Sea can dry up”. Artist Duong Van Hoc said: “I always put into the puppets not only the story but also the breath and simple voice of the Vietnamese people. Thanks to that, audiences, whether domestic or international, can feel the thoughts, aspirations and simple beauty of the Vietnamese people”.

Artist Duong Van Hoc introduces puppets to visitors. Photo: NGOC HOA

If the Vietnamese puppet area brings a sense of national origin, the exhibition area with the theme "Puppets Telling World Stories" opens up a borderless creative space. Standing out in the space is a female puppet with blonde hair, deep eyes, wearing a white ballet skirt with many layers, appearing like a graceful swan. Through the artist's hands, the puppet's movements depict the final moments of the swan's life, beautiful, perfect but haunting. Asian culture is also vividly present in the work "Girl or Spider", inspired by the image of the spider demon in Journey to the West. The puppet transforms into a mysterious Asian girl in a bright red dress. When the control string is stretched, the beautiful shell separates, revealing the spider structure inside. The moment of transformation makes the whole audience admire, evoking the boundary between external beauty and internal nature.

No less special is the shadow puppet exhibition area. Under the warm yellow light, each silhouette of children playing with pigs, chickens, and dogs appears on the thin white cloth. It is so simple but touches the memories of many Vietnamese people. Ms. Nguyen Thu Ha (born in 1980, in Hanoi ) said: "Looking at the shadow puppets, I feel like I am back to my childhood with the barefoot running, calling out to my friends."

The thematic exhibition opens up a world where tradition and creativity meet, where small puppets become a bridge to bring heritage closer to the public. More than 30 works and artifacts donated by artist Duong Van Hoc to Hanoi Museum are not only exhibits, but also vivid stories, promising to continue to resonate in the hearts of all generations of Vietnamese people. Mr. Nguyen Tien Da, Director of Hanoi Museum emphasized: "What needs to be done now is to bring heritage closer to the younger generation and international friends. If delayed, the risk of it being lost is very high. Therefore, Hanoi Museum strives to bring performing arts, including puppetry, into the exhibition space so that the public can know, understand and appreciate the country's heritage more."

Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/van-hoa/van-hoc-nghe-thuat/nguoi-ke-chuyen-bang-roi-1015555