On the essence of Chinese shadow play from the perspective of western paper puppet show

There is a saying that art is the product of the times.

The artistic forms preserved in the changes of the times are all valuable cultural heritages.

Their continuation depends on people's inheritance from generation to generation and their own continuous development.

Paper puppet show was born in 1798 and appeared in the lounges of some middle classes in Germany. Paper puppet show is to draw cartoons or characters on paper, then cut them out and stick them on a stick to become performance props. In the early years, the stage was very simple, with corrugated cardboard as the background, flowers and trees attached, and actors hiding behind with paper dolls. This humorous and relaxed performance form has been loved by people. With the change of the times, the paper puppet show has gradually declined, and there are fewer and fewer opportunities to see this kind of theater.

Eric Preil is a paper puppet artist who advocates inheritance.

Novels adapted by Eric Preil (such as Treasure Island) and written stories (such as Oedipus, King Hubu, percival, Fidra, Hotel Murder, In Zechen, etc.). ) Create new stories by revisiting movies with myths, polar regions and adventures, and put these elements into the salon for production. Nowadays, paper puppet show has attracted wide attention, and he is often invited to perform at international festivals such as Germany, Mexico, Denmark and Portugal.

In fact, the paper puppet show prevailing in Europe is similar to the China quintessence shadow play.

Shadow play is also called shadow play or light shadow play. It is a folk art, which began in the Western Han Dynasty, flourished in the Tang Dynasty and flourished in the Qing Dynasty. Artists manipulate the characters in shadow play behind the scenes and then perform with music and songs, which is known as the "ancestor of movies". Compared with western puppet shows, the present situation of shadow play is not so optimistic. With the rapid development of modern society, shadow play has been changed and neglected.

Eric Preil's paper puppet show has also experienced such a process of being left out in the cold to some extent. For forty years, he worked as a puppeteer and actor in many companies. In these forty years, he has repeatedly thought and constantly innovated, and his personal works mostly explore the traditional craft of paper puppet show by changing the original constraints and rules. Depending on the situation, the work will choose whether to use the stage set of the puppet show, plus traditional figurines or contemporary works, especially those carved with wood or linoleum.

In fact, many art forms have been forgotten by everyone in the rapid development of society. Shadow play may be inspired by the development of Eric Preil's paper puppet show, which will inject new vitality into shadow play. In the corner that is not concerned, there are still many artists who inherit this traditional art with love and persistence. I hope that one day, when the lights are on and the gongs and drums are loud, the national quintessence that has been sung for thousands of years can still stand in the center of the stage and show its splendid and immortal art and culture to the world.