The Shadow Puppet Craft

 

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Like most inherited art forms, the masters make it look easy.  What their mastery doesn’t show you is the natural gift, the hard work and the years of trial and error it took to get there. 



As an ongoing apprentice in the three main schools of traditional Chinese shadow puppet making, I can assure you that the skills and techniques accumulated from a collective 1500 years of artistry take nothing short of a lifetime to master.  For the new enthusiast, the differences between a good, great and masterful puppet may not be apparent, but for those with an unhealthy obsession (me), it is nothing short of obvious. 

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A masterful puppet is a work of art in its own right, but truly comes to life with light behind it.



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