Zhongxin Wanghai, 3 Mar (Reporter Xu Jing) "The three-foot raw silk stage is all based on 16 fingers to make a theater. Sometimes under the bright moonlight window, a smile still comes from mastery. "Shadow puppeteers manipulate silhouettes of characters made of animal skin or cardboard, match curtains and tunes, and sing about life on stage. On the 16th, the opening ceremony of "Lights and Shadows China: Life and Imagination in Guangyu Changyu" was held at Shanghai University Museum.

Exhibition view. Photo courtesy of Shanghai University

This exhibition is jointly planned and organized by Shanghai University Museum (Shanghai Culture Museum) and Chengdu Museum (Chengdu China Shadow Museum).

Shaanxi, Hebei, Hubei, Sichuan, Gansu... This special exhibition takes time and space as the longitude and latitude, and displays more than 300 shadow puppets from all over the country, so that the audience can enjoy different regional characteristics and art genres, and different and wonderful shadow puppet art without leaving Shanghai.

Shanghai shadow puppets. Photo courtesy of Shanghai University

The exhibition integrates Shanghai cultural elements into shadow puppet art, whether it is shadow puppet records produced in Shanghai during the Republic of China period or Yuyuan trick scenes depicted in the small teaching field annual painting, while showing the creativity, inclusiveness and diversity of Shanghai culture, it is similar to the yearning for a better life and the cultural connotation of the search for the meaning of life contained in shadow art.

Shaanxi shadow. Photo courtesy of Shanghai University

At the same time, the exhibition shows the tools and craftsmanship of shadow puppets, these exquisite shadow puppet artworks are delicately carved, unique in shape, or classical and dignified, or dynamic and fashionable, showing the rich forms of shadow puppet art, and accompanied by scenes such as "Journey to the West: Dragon Palace Borrowed Treasure", "The Legend of the White Snake - Broken Bridge", "Liaozhai Zhiyi Zhao Chenghu" and other scenes. These scenes are derived from historical stories or folk legends, and epitomize many excellent traditional national virtues such as benevolence, chastity, bravery, and fortitude of the sons and daughters of China.

Hebei shadow puppets. Photo courtesy of Shanghai University

At the opening ceremony, an introduction video of the Chengdu China Shadow Museum was played, and a short video introduced a series of achievements made by the Chengdu China Shadow Museum in the collection, protection, display and utilization of shadow puppets. Afterwards, a shadow-themed animated short film produced by Shanghai University students showed the organic combination of tradition and contemporary art.

Li Mingbin, director of Shanghai University Museum, said that the planning and implementation of this special exhibition is the specific practice of the museum to implement the strategic cooperation agreement between Shanghai University and the Sichuan Provincial People's Government. Adhering to the concept of "small but fine" and "small and beautiful", the exhibition continues to benchmark the purpose of museum service and teaching.

Sichuan shadow puppets. Photo courtesy of Shanghai University

Gou Yannan, chief accountant of Shanghai University, fondly recalls the lively scene of watching shadow puppets in her hometown as a child, and quotes classic verses many times to express the recollection of her homeland and fading cultural traditions. He said that through shadow puppets, he can understand the deep meaning of local China.

Cheng Danhong, Secretary of the Party Committee of Shanghai University, pointed out that this special exhibition is a cultural feast of dialogue between history and reality, tradition and today, and interpretation of the ordinary life of the Chinese in Guangyu Changzhuli. He expressed deep hope that in the future, Shanghai University and Sichuan Cultural Museum will carry out more cooperation in exhibitions, exchanges, talent training and other fields within the framework of the provincial university cooperation agreement. (End)