According to recent statistics, there are 317 kinds of traditional classic operas in China. Although they greatly differ in their music and even the language they use in the fields of the stage structure, props, stage costume and make-up they are basically the same; none of them use any scenery.
For this exhibition we have selected some stage costumes, masks patterns of the make-up from the well known Peking opera and other traditional operas. This stage art was created by unknown folk artists in embroidery
and by players during the past hundred years.
Modern Chinese stage art first appeared in 1907, but it was Europeanized and Japanized. From then until 1949, spoken drama and Europeanized opera were extremely different from the traditional opera. But the great development of the modern stage art has occurred only since the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949. The Chinese Government invested large sums of money to build and rebuild theatres, and now all theatrical groups have professional stage designers of their own. In order to train more able people, stage art departments were set up at the universities of Peking and Shanghai. With more and more international cultural exchange and various theatrical performances taking place, since 1976 stage art has become more varied. But before 1975, the form used was basically only realistic.
By looking at our exhibits, you can see how the style of our various performances has changed. We are only beginning to adopt varied and different methods and styles, from the realistic to the abstract.
- Dianjie Xue
* 1937, Liaoning Province
Additional information: Stage designer at the Central Experimental Theatre in Beijing, professor at the Central Academy of Drama. He exhibited at PQ in 1987, 1991; in 1987 he received a honourary award.
Obrázky z katalogu
- Yuansheng Liu
* 1942, Shanghai
Specialization: teacher, set designer
Additional information: Born 1942 in Shanghai. Deputy Dean of the Department of Stage Design at the Central Academy of Drama in Beijing. Professor. Honourary award at the 1987 Prague Quadrennial.
Information from catalogue 1999:
He graduated from Central Academy of Drama and currently teaches in the Central Academy of Drama. In 1987, 1991 and 1995, he participated in the PQ.
Obrázky z katalogu
- Benyi Zhou
Jiangsu Province
Additional information: Born in 1931 in the Jiangsu province. He is chief of the Stage Design Department at the Shanghai Theatrical Academy.
Obrázky z katalogu
- Liyi CHEN
Additional information: Born in 1940 in Guiyang. From 1961 worked in the Régional Ensemble of Qianju Traditional Theatre and since 1970 he has been the chief stage designer there.
Obrázky z katalogu
- Kedi CUI
Additional information: Born 1930 in Wuhu, Anhui province. Stage designer at the Shanghai People's Art Theatre.
Exhibited at the 1987 Prague Quadrennial — honourary award.
Obrázky z katalogu
- Jiasheng DING
Additional information: Born in Ningbo in the Zhejiang province. He is the deputy chairman of the Stage Design Department at the Shanghai Theatrical Academy.
Obrázky z katalogu
- Shixiang DU
Additional information: Born in 1926 in the Zhejiang province. Since 1957 he is the stage designer
of the Shanghai People's Art Theatre.
Obrázky z katalogu
- Silian FAN
Additional information: Born in 1928 in the Zhejiang province. Since 1956 he is at the Chinese
Art Theatre for Children. He is the vice-president of the Chinese OISTAT
national centre.
Obrázky z katalogu
- Dayou GUO
Additional information: Born in 1939 in Peking. Since 1956 he has been working with traditional
Peking Opera companies.
Obrázky z katalogu
- Jiyang HAN
Additional information: Born in 1939 in the Anhui province. Since 1961 he is a stage designer at the Shanghai People's Art Theatre.
Obrázky z katalogu
- Xiyu HAN
Additional information: Born in 1927. He works as a stage designer in drama and traditional
theatres. He also teaches at the Central Theatrical Academy in Peking.
Obrázky z katalogu
- Miaosheng HU
Additional information: Born 1936 in Shanghai. Head of the Department of Stage Design at the Shanghai Theatre
Academy, Deputy Chairman of the Shanghai Scenographic Society. At the Prague Quadrennial
1987 honourary award.
Obrázky z katalogu
- Shan HUA
Additional information: Born in 1943 in the Zhejiang province. In 1963 he became the stage
designer of the Shaoxing Traditional Regional Theatre, where he still
works in the Ning De Ensemble.
Obrázky z katalogu
- Qingze HUANG (Quigze HUANG)
Additional information: Born in 1933 in the Shandong province. Since 1959 he has been working as a stage designer in the Peking People's Art Theatre.
Obrázky z katalogu
- Tian LAN
Additional information: Born in 1927 in Shanghai. Since 1949 he has been the stage designer at the Theatrical Ensemble of the People's Liberation Army.
Obrázky z katalogu
- Faliang LI
Additional information: Born in 1954 in the Hubei province. Works as stage designer at the Huangmei Traditional Regional Theatre in Hubei.
Obrázky z katalogu
- Gongmu LI
Additional information: Born in 1934 in Sichuan province. Works as stage designer of the Musical Theatre of the Liaoning province.
Obrázky z katalogu
- Chang LI
Additional information: Born in 1929. A professor at the Stage Design Department of the Central Theatrical Academy in Peking. The secretary general of the Chinese OISTAT national centre.
Obrázky z katalogu
- Keyu LI
Additional information: Born in 1929 in the Sichuan province. She is the chief costume designer of the Central Ballet Ensemble.
Obrázky z katalogu
- Rulan LI
Additional information: Born 1935. Stage designer at the Shanghai Youth Art Theatre.
Obrázky z katalogu
- Suen LI
Additional information: Born 1950. Costume designer at Shanghai Dance Drama Company.
Obrázky z katalogu
- Wei LU
Additional information: Born in 1931 in Shanghai. Since 1957 the stage designer of the Drama
Theatre in Harbin.
Obrázky z katalogu
- Shounian MA
Additional information: Born in 1950 in the Sichuan province. Since 1979 he is a choreographer
and director, since 1980 he also is a stage designer.
Obrázky z katalogu
- Yuzhuo MEI
Additional information: Born in 1929. Has been active as a stage designer since 1948, at present in the Artistic Ensemble in Dalian.
Obrázky z katalogu
- Mudong QI
Additional information: Born in 1922 in the Zhejiang province. A professor at the Central
Theatrical Academy in Peking and president of the Union of Chinese
Theatrical Artists.
Obrázky z katalogu
- Gao SHEN
Additional information: Born 1947 in Shanghai. Stage designer with the traditional Kunqu opera ensemble in Shanghai. Honourary award at the 1987 Prague Quadrennial.
Obrázky z katalogu
- Yaoding SHEN
Additional information: Born in 1942 in the Zhejiang province. He works as the stage designer
of the Chinese Art Theatre for Children.
Obrázky z katalogu
- Liangji SHI
Additional information: Born in 1950 in Shanghai. Specializes mostly in stage designs for childreďs theatres.
Obrázky z katalogu
- Shifeng SU
Additional information: Born in 1920 in Shanghai. Works as stage designer at Yueju Traditional
Theatre in Shanghai.
Obrázky z katalogu
- Zhongping TAN
Additional information: Born in 1936 in the Hubei province. Works as designer at the Recreation
Park Theatre in Wuhan.
Obrázky z katalogu
- Jihou WANG
Additional information: Born in 1942 in the Yunan province. He is the deputy director of the
People's Art Theatre in the Liaoning province. He also writes plays for
children.
Obrázky z katalogu
- Linyou WANG
Additional information: Born 1943 in Inner Mongolia. Main stage and costume designer at the Central Opera,
Beijing. Teaches at the Central Academy of Drama. Honouary award at the 1987 Prague
Quadrennial.
Obrázky z katalogu
- Mingxu WANG
Additional information: Born in 1936 in the Liaoning province. He is the stage designer of the
Dance Theatre in the Liaoning province.
Obrázky z katalogu
- Peisen WANG
Additional information: Born in 1937 in the Henan province. He designs costumes for drama, as well as for traditional musical theatres in Peking and in the provinces.
Obrázky z katalogu
- Ren WANG
Additional information: Born in 1932 in the Liaoning province. He is an associate professor at the Central Theatrical Academy in Peking. He has published a number of studies on stage design.
Obrázky z katalogu
- Wujun WANG
Additional information: Born in 1927 in the Henan province. Since 1964 he is the stage designer of the Musical Theatre in the Jiangxi province.
Obrázky z katalogu
- Yuncheng WANG
Additional information: Born in 1939 in Xian. Since 1963 he has been working with the Xian
Song and Dance Ensemble.
Obrázky z katalogu
- Dalun XING
Additional information: Born in 1931 in the Shanxi province. An associate professor and deputy
chief of the Stage Design Department at the Central Theatrical Academy
in Peking.
Obrázky z katalogu
- Jiangang XU
Additional information: Born in 1958 in Qingdao. Works for the Drama Theatre in Qingdao.
Obrázky z katalogu
- Weixing XU
Additional information: Born in 1930 in the Fujian province. He is an associate professor at the Stage Design Department of the Shanghai Theatrical Academy.
Obrázky z katalogu
- Xiumin YAN
Additional information: Born in 1931 in Peking. Costume designer of the Peking People's Art
Theatre. Also works for traditional theatres, films and television.
Obrázky z katalogu
- Lu YI
Additional information: Born in 1956 in Shanghai. He works as stage designer for the Fujian
Theatre.
Obrázky z katalogu
- Jingxin ZHANG
Additional information: Born in 1954 in Shanghai. Works in the Theatrical Research Institute in the Hunan province.
Obrázky z katalogu
- Guoliang ZHAO
Additional information: Born in 1945 in Shanghai. Since 1960 he was assistant stage designer and since 1975 stage designer at the Shanghai Dance Theatre. He also works for regional traditional Yueju Theatre.
Obrázky z katalogu
- Jiapei ZHAO
Additional information: Born in 1953 in Shanghai. Since 1982 he is the stage designer of the Art Theatre of Chinese Youth.
Obrázky z katalogu
- Yingmian ZHAO
Additional information: Born 1935 in Fujian province. Dean of the Dpt. of Stage Design at the Chinese Opera
Academy. Professor at the Central Academy of Drama. Prague Quadrennial 1987 honourary
award.
Obrázky z katalogu
- Tong ZHONG
Additional information: Born in 1938 in the Anhui province. Since 1959 he is the stage designer
of Song and Dance Ensemble of the Xinjiang province.
Obrázky z katalogu
- Zhang ZHU
Additional information: Born in 1929 in the Sichuan province. Works as stage designer at the People's Art Theatre in Tianjin.
Obrázky z katalogu
- Wenhai MA (Wenhai Ma)
Specialization: set designer
Additional information: Born in 1954 in the Heilongjiang province. He is an assistant at the Central Theatrical Academy in Peking.
