Portrait of a master face-changer/變臉大師
http://www.scmp.com/video
Wai Shui-kan (韋瑞群) spent the last 20 years mastering ‘bian lian’ (變臉), or face-changing, a 200-year-old Chinese art form that involves changing face masks with a sleight of hand. He was shot to fame on a Chinese TV show in 2007 where he changed 44 masks in 3 minutes, breaking a Guinness World Record.
Face-changing is still kept a well-hidden secret to outsiders although it’s centered around a trigger mechanism that enables the change. Wai explains it’s also about how well a practitioner combines technique, body movement and charisma in order to put on a good show.
In this video, we speak to ‘Master Wai’ about the art-form. Also, watch him do his sublime and quick face changes at a fundraising show for SCMP Home for Hopes.
過去二十年，韋瑞群一直潛心鑽研變臉藝術。此藝術在中國已有二百年歷史，表演者一揮手，即可將臉上的面具換走。2007年，韋瑞群為中國一個電視節目演出，在三分鐘內換了44張面具，打破健力士世界紀錄，也因此一舉成名。
變臉效果可由抹、吹、扯三種手法造成，但箇中奧秘仍然不為外人所知。韋瑞群解釋，表演者須配合技術、肢體動作和個人魅力，方能令演出嘆為觀止。
在本視訊訪問中，本報將專訪韋大師，暢談變臉藝術。觀眾更有機會欣賞他在「南華早報希望之家」籌款晚會上的精彩變臉表演。
Duration : 0:2:58
[youtube Zzy6Xy654u4]
He’s in the same …
He’s in the same league as a Western illusionist; and I’m blown away – really impressed – by his performance!
Nevertheless, I can appreciate the SCMP’s comment, “Face-changing is still kept a well-hidden secret to outsiders…” in the Hong Kong context, as it brings to mind other cultural artifacts such as the Cantonese language, Chinese chess and Mahjong.
see 1:15 both his …
see 1:15 both his hands are in front
its not a secret …
its not a secret behind this trick anymore, basically there are triggers on his back, strings tied with plastic rings, each time he pulls the ring, the silk mask quickly slips underneath his hat. so thats why he always have one of his hands behind his body before every mask changes.
His face changing …
His face changing is amazing. Hes so fast.