About Mask Changer

About  Mask Changing

A mask changer dressed in the elaborately designed costume, a colourful mask on his face which is topped by a beautiful head gear & shoes. He then steps off the stage and walks amongst the audience.

He stops in front of an audience, shakes his hand and points to his own face. He turns his face away for a split second, and the mask has changed.

How does he do it?

Well, that’s a secret, and a well-kept one for the last three centuries since the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).

In China, it is still considered a high-level secret, and some even consider it a national treasure. It is said that there are only about 200 true masters of the art in China. But today, mask-changing artistes can be found even in Malaysia and Singapore...

It is still being debated in China today, whether the art of mask-changing, or bian lian, should be taught to “outsiders”. Some years ago, Hong Kong superstar Andy Lau caused an uproar when it was alleged that he wanted to pay master Peng Deng Huai US$360,000 for lessons in mask-changing. Lau did eventually learn the art from Peng, but both have denied that any exchange of money took place.

The secret art is normally passed down from one generation to another within families. My sifu was taught by his grandfather when he was 11. He remembers being holed up in a small, dark room for lessons, because his grandfather was afraid people might try to peep into the room. When his grandfather was teaching him, even his grandmother didn’t know about it. That’s how big a secret it was.

He comes from a family of performers, a lineage that goes back to the famous Sichuan opera from which mask-changing originated. He says his great-grandfather was a Sichuan opera performer, while his grandfather was a magician. Somewhere along the way the two arts merged.

Everybody’s mask changing technique is different, thus each has their own style.

Mask changing, like any other performance of illusion, involves distractions and sleight-of-hand. The body movements of the performer have their functions, and every move has to be memorised and practised. Everything is directly linked to the act of mask-changing, down to the costume, headgear & shoes as well.

In China, it is up to the masters whether they want to teach anyone or not. If they wish to teach, then they would. Otherwise, no matter how much money you offer them, they would not share their secret.

Most of the costumes are elaborated with hand-sewn designs & patterns therefore it could cost a bomb. Mask-changing isn’t just about changing masks; it’s about how interesting the overall performance is, how a mask-changer moves and acts on stage - creating excitement, suspense and fun.