“Leather carves landscapes of grandeur, and light and shadows reflect ancient souls.” On the afternoon of October 22, 2025, the themed exhibition "Stories in Shadow Puppetry" was officially inaugurated at the BNBU Learning Resource Centre, and will remain on display until December 15, 2025. This unique showcase is sponsored by the Guangdong Museum and the Chengdu Museum, organized by the Guangdong Mobile Museum, BNBU's School of General Education, and the Learning Resource Centre, with support from Wang Dianlin Shadow Puppet Studio of Guangzhou No. 3 Middle School.
BNBU is the first host university for this exposition and its only stop in Zhuhai, following its previous displays at the Sihui Museum, Xinhui District Museum in Jiangmen City, and Zengcheng District Museum in Guangzhou.
President Chen Addressing the Audience
Mr. Wang Dianlin Speaking on Behalf of the Guangdong Museum
In his opening speech, President Chen Zhi expressed BNBU’s longstanding connection to shadow puppetry and his high expectations for the event. Mr. Wang Dianlin, representative of the Guangdong Museum, provided an overview of the touring exhibition and highlighted its core collections.
Guests Pose for a Group Photo
Guests Enjoying the Shadow Puppet Performance
Guests later enjoyed a captivating shadow puppet performance and explored the display under Mr. Wang’s guidance. Over 70 attendees were present at the opening ceremony, including BNBU’s President, Professor Chen Zhi; Provost, Professor Patrick Chau; Party Secretary, VP (Administration), Professor Mao Yaqing, and other BNBU leaders and Unit Heads.
Shadow Puppetry Exhibition Venue
Themed Painting “Lingnan Shadow Charm”
The exhibition features over 150 exquisite shadow puppetry items, presenting not only iconic scenes from classic plays such as “Journey to the West” and “Romance of the Three Kingdoms”, but also exposing the craftsmanship behind the art through the display of various production tools, scripts, and other artifacts. In addition, Mr. Luo Yongping, a renowned artist, and Mr. Xie Jinlin, a faculty member from SGE, jointly introduced their paintings under the theme “Lingnan Shadow Charm”, bringing together multiple art forms to celebrate the elegance of shadow theatre.
Shadow puppetry has been part of BNBU’s cultural legacy for nearly 14 years. Since the establishment of the Shadow Puppetry Theater in 2011, the university has been dedicated to the innovation and promotion of this ancient art form. Aligned with BNBU’s 20th anniversary, this exhibition not only marks another important step in supporting traditional Chinese culture, but also opens a new chapter in spreading the charm and essence of this intangible heritage.
