Heroes in Your Hand

1SPECIAL EXHIBITION — Heroes in Your Hand: The Art of Glove Puppetry

2Harborview City Museum, Gallery 3 | July 1 – September 30

3Glove puppetry, or budaixi, has entertained audiences in Taiwan for generations. Once performed on small wooden stages at temple festivals, it later moved to television, where its colorful heroes and villains became household names. This exhibition invites you to step behind the stage and discover how a piece of cloth and a carved wooden head come to life.

4What You'll See: More than 200 puppets, from simple early figures to modern characters with moving eyes and mouths; a reconstructed temple stage where you can watch how performers control two puppets at once, one on each hand; and a workshop corner where a master carver shows how a puppet's head is shaped, painted, and given its hair.

5Live Shows: Short performances are held every Saturday and Sunday at 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. in the courtyard. Each show lasts about 25 minutes. Seating is limited to 60 people, and tickets for seats are handed out at the information desk, first come, first served, starting 30 minutes before each show.

6Try It Yourself: Visitors aged 8 and up may join a one-hour hands-on class and make a simple puppet to take home. Classes cost NT$150 per person, and advance booking on our website is required.

7Tickets and Hours: Adults NT$100; students with ID NT$50; children under 6 free. Open Tuesday to Sunday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (closed on Mondays). Photos are welcome, but please do not use flash, as strong light can damage the old costumes.