ABSTRACT

In 1994, the Kaohsiung Museum of Shadow Puppet was established and opened to the public as a multifunctional museum by the Kaohsiung County Government under instruction of the Council for Cultural Affairs of the Executive of Yuan and the Provincial Education Department. First conceived in 1986, the museum was intended to promote, preserve and research the historic practice of shadow puppetry. Shadow puppet shows are also held regularly in the museum for those keen to experience it for themselves. In addition, the museum also further emphasises shadow play education and experimentation while seeking paths to future innovation. The decline of shadow puppetry is often attributed to the rise in popularity of new media like television and films. For shadow puppetry to receive more contemporary attention, new approaches to performance are needed. A digitised performance method appeared to be an appropriate approach in the context of the Kaohsiung City Puppetry Museum.