After each show, they stayed to take photos, exchanged with artists, and tried water puppetry themselves. Many were amazed and found it hard to believe that the puppeteers stood in water to operate the puppets.
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The water puppet performance space of artist Phan Thanh Liem at the “Vietnam Day in Brazil” program lures many delegates and international visitors. |
In mid-November 2024, artist Phan Thanh Liem had an opportunity to promote Vietnamese culture and arts in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, as part of the “Vietnam Day in Brazil” program.
The event was part of the “Vietnam Days Abroad in 2024” program under the theme “Confluence of the quintessence of a thousand years - Rising in the new era” organized by the Department of Cultural Diplomacy and UNESCO under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The program was attended by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his spouse.
Having performed Vietnamese water puppetry in many countries such as Italy, the Republic of Korea, Thailand, the U.S., Germany, the U.K., and Canada, this was the first time artist Phan Thanh Liem performed it in a South American country, halfway across the world from Vietnam.
Artist Phan Thanh Liem shared that he had never performed in such a beautiful stage as this one. The stage was carefully painted in gold and red, with the word “Tho” (Longevity) and two dragons on either side. The audience loved the stage imbued with Vietnamese images.
Artist Phan Thanh Liem also shared that a Vietnamese woman married to a Brazilian brought her family to watch the performance. Her parents-in-law attended all three days of the show. On the final day, they met him and praised Vietnamese water puppetry, expressing their amazement at witnessing such an interesting art form for the first time.
Some Vietnamese women, dressed in traditional ao dai, traveled from other cities in Brazil to watch the performance. They made the long journey upon hearing that Vietnamese artists were performing here.
Artist Phan Thanh Liem emphasized that culture and the arts serve as powerful ambassadors in promoting Vietnam’s nation and people to the world. He expressed his hope that he would have more opportunities to bring Vietnamese art troupes abroad, fostering national cultural exchange and attracting more international visitors to Vietnam.
Translated by Song Anh