Exhibition “The ARt of WATER”: When water puppetry heritage is told through digital technology
WVR - On December 13, in Hanoi, a group of students from the Academy of Journalism and Communication, in collaboration with the Hanoi Creative Coordination Center (Hanoi Museum), organized the exhibition "THE ARt of WATER".
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The event, part of the "Ngoc Thuy Dinh" project, aims to bridge the gap between traditional art and contemporary life, particularly sparking the interest of young people in preserving and promoting cultural heritage values. The exhibition marks a new effort in introducing and spreading the value of water puppetry art.
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| The exhibition applies augmented reality (AR) technology, allowing the public to "touch", "feel", and interact with the water puppetry heritage. (Source: Organizing Committee) |
The exhibition uses augmented reality (AR) technology to recreate the plays, characters, and performance spaces of water puppetry. By simply scanning a QR code, viewers can observe moving puppet models, water stage settings, and performance scenes in a three-dimensional space.
With professional support from the Thang Long Water Puppet Theater, the student group has comprehensively integrated AR technology with 17 water puppet plays. Beyond merely recording performance images, the young group conducted content research, produced images in the water pavilion space, and designed interactive experiences on the AR platform.
The event was attended by Ms. Nguyen Thi Ngoc Hoa, Director of the Hanoi Creative Coordination Center; artisan Nguyen Van Vien from Chang Son Water Puppet Ward (Thach That); the organizing committee of the Ngoc Thuy Dinh project, along with representatives from accompanying units, partners, and sponsors.
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| Nguyen Thi Ngoc Hoa, Director of the Hanoi Creative Coordination Center, speaks at the event's opening. (Source: Organizing Committee) |
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Ms. Nguyen Thi Ngoc Hoa emphasized the significance of the event in the context of preserving and promoting cultural heritage values: “With the function of coordinating and supporting creative groups and communities in the field of heritage and creativity, in 2025, the Center has coordinated to organize about 100 events, with the 'Ngoc Thuy Dinh' project being evaluated as one of the standout events.”
Ms. Nguyen Thi Ngoc Hoa noted that, besides units with advantages in location and resources, many water puppet wards in Hanoi have not yet received adequate attention, especially in terms of communication and public engagement. This is why the Center chose to support the "THE ARt of WATER" exhibition.
Praising the role of the student group in executing the project, the Director of the Hanoi Creative Coordination Center affirmed that the young people not only have love and passion for heritage but also possess the knowledge, skills, and social responsibility to organize a well-rounded and large-scale event.
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| Nguyen Minh Trang, Head of the "Ngoc Thuy Dinh" Project Organizing Committee, speaks at the event. (Source: Organizing Committee) |
For her part, Nguyen Minh Trang, Head of the exhibition organizing committee, shared that water puppetry has long been a pride of Vietnamese folk culture, embodying the intellect, creativity, and soul of the farmers in the Northern Delta. Driven by the desire to preserve, maintain, and spread this art form, the project team implemented the project with a focus on combining traditional heritage and technology.
Besides using AR technology, the exhibition also displays documents, images, models, and artifacts that help viewers better understand the formation, crafting process, and cultural depth of each play. “This is not just a place to display documents and artifacts, but also a place where water puppetry tells its own story.”
Nguyen Minh Trang hopes the "THE ARt of WATER" exhibition will become a dialogue space between the past and present. Through this, the exhibition will inspire the public, especially the youth, to love and appreciate the cultural essence of the nation, contributing to preserving and glorifying this unique art form of Vietnam.
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| Water puppet artisan Nguyen Van Vien expresses special admiration for the exhibition space. (Photo: Hien Anh) |
Sharing with World & Vietnam Report, artisan Nguyen Van Vien from Chang Son Water Puppet Ward expressed special admiration upon entering the exhibition space. According to him, the exhibition leaves an impression with its creative approach, where the values of folk water puppetry are conveyed through modern technology, rather than just displaying static images or artifacts.
Nguyen Van Vien appreciates the convenience and accessibility of the exhibition, as the public can follow and learn about the plays through smartphone applications. The combination of images and illustrative videos makes the content more intuitive and lively, transforming the exhibition space into a vibrant experience where heritage is retold in a new way.
Additionally, from the perspective of someone long associated with the folk water puppetry profession, Nguyen Van Vien emphasized that for the heritage to develop sustainably, it must start from the roots, which are the water puppet wards in rural areas.
“For folk water puppetry, there needs to be proper investment and attention to the water puppet wards in rural areas, where this art form originates and is nurtured,” he shared.
Nguyen Van Vien hopes the State and relevant agencies will pay more attention to preserving the living space of the heritage so that water puppetry can continue to sustainably exist in contemporary life.
Some other images from the event
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