I have always been interested in Chinese cultural arts as I find them really fascinating and detailed. Hence, for this photo journal, I decided to choose a form of Chinese cultural arts to focus on, the glove puppet show, 布袋戏. (Its literal translation is cloth sack theatre).

I came to a place where a show was playing. I watched the show but could not understand anything as they were played in dialects.

After the show ended, I sneaked to the backstage.

Then...I met the friendly and cute...Uncle Tan! 

Uncle Tan, a 67 year old retiree, told me that he has been doing this kind of shows for decades. He started learning this puppetry since he was very young. At the peak period of these shows, he use to perform for Getais and Chinese operas in his 20s as well. However, he went on to work in the backstage as he got tired from the busy schedule as a performer.

Uncle Tan has retired from this industry since 5 years ago. Yet, just last year, when his friends asked him to help out and form a group to put up shows for various events, he accepts the offer with a smile.

When the night falls, the neon lights became a part of the show.

Just the 5 of them to perform from 2pm - 4pm and 7.30pm- 9.30pm. They go around Singapore to put up shows for events.

Uncle Tan told me that even though the puppet show still exists, the people who are continuing this show are decreasing in numbers. He also mentioned that he had failed to find people with real skills to work with him after he retired, thus, there was a 5-year break in between.Let's hope that we are still able to see this form of arts in the coming years.