Innovative Digital Puppetry System wins bronze award at the Geneva Invention Exhibition

Professor Hung Keung from the Department of Cultural and Creative Arts won a bronze medal at the 49th International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva (Geneva Invention Exhibition) held from 17 to 21 April 2024 . Named “Digital Puppetry System: Connecting Young Generation and Cultural Heritage with Novel Technology”, Professor Hung’s award-winning invention merges traditional puppetry with digital technologies, and modernises and reactivates puppetry into contemporary art. By doing so, the invention creates distinct puppet performances while involving the younger generation in preserving endangered cultural heritage.

“I am glad to receive such a prestigious award at one of the major invention events in the world. Puppetry has a long tradition in Chinese culture. It is widely believed that the history of puppetry could be dated back to as early as the Han Dynasty. In Chinese culture, puppetry is a multidisciplinary art form that includes music, song, dance, storytelling, and even martial arts. The puppet itself is a display of craftsmanship. Like many other traditional art forms, puppetry is experiencing a dwindling popularity. But the advances in modern technology has enabled us to use more innovative and interactive ways to preserve this endangered cultural heritage,” Professor Hung said.

To revitalise the art form, Professor Hung’s puppetry project plans to develop digital puppetry solutions to cater to cultural traditions and artistic needs. In addition, the project will organise workshops, exhibitions, and competitions to engage the younger generations in puppetry playing and conservation. He is also investigating on how to develop a gamified kit to make this art form more appealing to the public.

Hosted by Palexpo SA, The Geneva Invention Exhibition is a renowned annual international event that celebrates ground-breaking inventions from around the world. Held between 17 and 21 April 2024, the 49th exhibition attracted entries from 38 countries and regions, featuring a total of 1035 exhibits. More than 25,000 visitors including inventors, entrepreneurs, investors, and industry experts from across the globe visited the five-day exhibition. The University garnered a total of seven awards, including four silver and three bronze medals, at the 49th exhibition.