Tsz-wai Pun

Tsz-wai Pun

In-venue Programme

Date
6 March 2026 (Fri) 7:30pm
Venue
Louis Koo Cinema, Hong Kong Arts Centre
Note

Conducted in Cantonese; Sharing sessions: Hong Kong Sign Language interpretation available

Accessibility Services
25
Sharing sessions: Hong Kong Sign Language interpretation available

In-venue Screening

Online Screening

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About the Project

When Robots Meet Puppetry

When people think of robots, visions of technology and the future often come to mind. Puppetry, on the contrary, represents traditional craftsmanship. What stories will unfold when the two seemingly disparate art forms are brought together? Multidisciplinary artist Tsz-wai Pun and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) talents Nathan Fong will bring together new technology with old-world craft to create a performance beyond imagination. 

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Artist Interview
1. You and Nathan are passionate about different disciplines. What drove you to collaborate with him?

Nathan and I are friends, and I have witnessed his growth over the years. Although I have no experience in robotics or STEM, I admire Nathan’s talent in robotics and his unique perspective on the world. I find him deeply inspiring, especially his curiosity about the world and his ability to contemplate complex theories. He not only understands but can clearly articulate spatial concepts, especially those concerning four-dimensional space and theoretical foundations about the universe. In my artistic practice, I tend to draw inspiration from a variety of disciplines and experiment with different storytelling approaches. I hope to bring this spirit into our collaboration.

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2. Why use robots to reimagine puppetry? How did the idea of combining the two come about, and how was the collaboration?

I believe there is no massive distinction between traditional puppetry and puppetry utilising robotics. What I mean is the essence of puppetry: the “manipulation of inanimate objects to tell stories”. In this project, we experiment with different approaches to make objects the vessels of narratives, employing robotics as the means to manipulate, move, and automate these objects. Puppetry craft, as a tradition, is known for being highly intricate, complex, and diverse. The application of robotics is simply another way to experiment with this established form, further adding to its versatility. I hope this research challenges preconceived notions about robotics, puppetry, and new media performance.

In the early stages of our collaboration, we brainstormed “how to tell a story” and “what might the story contain”. I asked Nathan about his interests and what inspires his creation of robots, subsequently reflecting together on four-dimensional space and geometry—explorations that sparked numerous philosophical discussions about truth and the nature of reality. These have become important pillars within our narrative framework.

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3. What do you hope to learn from this research project? And what do you hope the audience will see and feel in the work?

We hope to use this opportunity to understand knowledge domains we have yet to master, explore and challenge conventional narrative approaches, and expand the boundaries of interdisciplinary collaboration. I hope that this open attitude—the spirit of trying new things and viewing the world from diverse perspectives—will ultimately be conveyed to the audience.

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About the Artist
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Photo of Tsz-wai Pu

Tsz-wai Pun

Tsz-wai Pun is an interdisciplinary artist and  lmmaker based in Hong Kong. She holds an MFA from the School of Creative Media, and is a part-time lecturer at the Hong Kong Arts School. Her award-winning works explore themes of memory and time. Pun is the recipient of the 2025/26 WMA Commission Grant alongside ecologist collaborator Coskun Guclu.

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Photo Session - Tsz Wai Pun 1
Photo Session - Tsz Wai Pun 2
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