Moved to Life: Tradition and Reinvention in Asian Puppet Theatre · 心生偶动：亚洲木偶戏的传统与再创造

Moved to Life began with a concern for traditional puppetry. Chinese puppetry spread overseas with the migration of Chinese communities and took root in Malaysia, yet it has gradually faced a growing rupture in transmission. Once a tradition leaves its place of origin, how can a craft continue in a new environment and give rise to new possibilities?

From this starting point, our exploration extends to the artists who preserve and animate the spirit of these traditions through their hands. Those who preserve are preserving the spirit of tradition; those who animate are bringing the puppets to life with their hands. With the changing times, traditional crafts can sometimes appear to be gradually fading from contemporary life. This symposium therefore invites us to consider: when tradition enters different places, generations, and cultural contexts, how can we remain connected to its roots while allowing it to grow in new environments? And in this process, what kind of dialogue can unfold between inheritance and innovation?