Face-changing

Face-changing

Face-changing is a special technique for building characters in traditional Chinese opera. By changing faces in the blink of an eye, performers could express the emotional changes of their characters.

Face-changing requires dexterity and smooth and subtle movements. It achieves intended effects to appeal to the audience in a way different from other performing skills in traditional Chinese opera. The use of this technique, though widespread in many opera genres, is most prominent in Sich- uan Opera, in which face-changing takes place through plastering, powder-blowing, or facemask-switching. Plastering refers to the move by which performers smear part of their faces using cosmetic paint previously hidden in eyebrows or hair. Powder-blowing is applied to change the colors of performers’ faces. This requires performers to oil their faces in the area that needs color-change in advance, so that colored powder will stick after being blown to their faces. Aside from face coloring, mask switching allows performers to change faces instantly. They attach make-up masks to their faces in layers, neither  too tight nor too loose, and when the cue comes, they pull the masks off one by one.

Face-changing is a technique unique to traditional Chinese culture and has won plaudits in countries around the world where traditional Chinese operas are performed.

变脸

变脸是中国传统戏剧中塑造人物的一种特技，通过瞬间改变脸谱，表现人物内心的情感变化，令人拍案叫绝。

变脸表演要求动作敏捷、不露痕迹，对演员技巧要求较高。变脸可以给观众一种不同于其他戏曲表演的体验和感受，具有极强的感染力。中国不少剧种中都有变脸特技，其中以川剧中的变脸最为著名。川剧变脸主要有抹暴眼、吹粉、扯脸等手法。抹暴眼是演员手指抹上预存于眉头或鬓的墨青，一抹即变；吹粉是演员吹起色粉，事先在需要变化的地方涂油，以改变脸色，抹暴眼和吹粉都属于涂面化妆。扯脸则需要将脸谱面具一层层地贴套在脸上，且松紧有度，在剧情需要时一个个拉下来达到变脸效果。

变脸作为中华传统文化的一张名片，多次在国际舞台上展示中国传统戏剧的技艺绝活和独特风采，获得各国人民的广泛赞誉。