VOV.VN - Three Vietnamese water puppets have embarked on a new cultural mission after years of captivating audiences on stage, joining the collection of Russia’s State Museum of Oriental Art and helping showcase one of Vietnam’s best-known traditional performing arts to international visitors.
The handover ceremony took place in Moscow on July 15, featuring three puppets from Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre representing a Fairy Maiden, a Female Farmer, and a Phoenix.
On behalf of the Russian Embassy in Vietnam, Elena Bezdetko, spouse of the Russian Ambassador to Vietnam, formally presented the puppets to the museum.
Speaking at the ceremony, Bezdetko emphasised that although the puppets would no longer perform on stage, they were beginning ‘a new life’ at the museum, where they would continue serving as cultural ambassadors introducing the beauty of the Vietnamese water puppet theatre to Russian audiences.
She added that the event also reflected the enduring friendship between Vietnam and Russia through cultural exchange.
Representing the museum, Albina Legostaeva, curator of the museum’s Vietnam collection, described the acquisition as a valuable addition to its holdings.
She noted that the puppets are more than museum objects, they are former ‘performers’ that have spent years entertaining audiences at Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre, carrying with them stories of Vietnamese daily life, artistic traditions and cultural identity.
Their journey from the water stage in Hanoi to the exhibition galleries in Moscow will allow them to continue telling the story of Vietnam's unique water puppet theatre while fostering greater cultural understanding between the peoples of Vietnam and Russia, she said.
The donation was made possible through cooperation between Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre, the State Museum of Oriental Art, and the Russian Embassy in Vietnam, marking another milestone in cultural cooperation between the two countries.
Recognised as one of Vietnam’s most distinctive traditional performing arts, water puppet theatre originated in the rice-growing villages of the Red River Delta more than 1,000 years ago. Performed on water with handcrafted wooden puppets accompanied by live traditional music, the art form reflects Vietnamese folklore, rural life and spiritual beliefs, and remains one of the country's most iconic cultural attractions.
Founded in Moscow, the State Museum of Oriental Art is one of Russia's leading institutions dedicated to the collection, preservation and study of Asian and African art. The museum houses more than 150,000 artifacts from over 100 countries and territories, including a permanent exhibition on Southeast Asian and Vietnamese art featuring objects dating from the 11th to the 20th centuries.
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VOV.VN - Vietnam’s water puppetry, a unique art form dating back to the 11th century, is emerging as a cultural ambassador as the country seeks UNESCO recognition.
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