Museum In Portugal Holds Indonesian Puppet Expo

London, July 9 (Antara) - Museum Oriente in Lisbon, Portugal, is organizing a puppet exhibition entitled "Shadows of Asia" by featuring a collection of leather puppets and properties of puppets from Indonesia and six other Asian countries. "This event is aimed at promoting the diversity of Asian puppets in Portugal, both traditional and IT-based modern puppets," the chief of the information, social and cultural affairs section at the Indonesian embassy in Portugal, Tri Wahyuni said in an e-mailed statement to an Antara correspondent in London on Tuesday. The exhibition was inaugurated by Director of Museum Oriente Jo�o Amorim and Chairman of the Oriente Foundation Carlos Monjardino. A total of 40 guests including diplomats, artists and museum curator Sylvie and Jacques Pimpaneau attended the opening ceremony. Six other Asian countries, India, China, Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia and Turkey are also participating in the exhibition. "Legend stories from the nations in the East known for their diversity are put on display," Amorim said. Mahabharata and Ramayana of the Indonesian and Indian versions are featured dominantly in the exhibition. A film about puppeteer in Bali is also shown in the exhibition. Art lover from Macau, Kwok On, also contributed his collection of puppets to the exhibition. During the exhibition, Museum Oreinte has organized workshops and other interactive activities related to puppet over the next three months. Musem Oriente and the Indonesian embassy also plan to hold another exhibition about Indonesia, and Asia this year.