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Face changing gets modern make over
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From Michael Jackson's dance moves to Spider Man's mask, the Chinese performance known as "Bian Lian" is getting a facelift. The theatrical art, which translates as "face changing", is highly treasured in Hong Kong, where one family is hoping to modernize the tradition.
Wai Shui-Kwan is not the only "Bian Lian" performer in Hong Kong, but he is arguably the best and the fastest.
Dubbed "The Hong Kong Bian Lian Master", Wai is the current world speed record holder of this centuries-old Sichuanese art form.
Wai also wants to revitalize the art form and promote it to a new generation.
Wai Shui-Kwan said, "I decided to add new elements, like some western type of music and movements. So far, people in Hong Kong and around the world like the new elements. They think it's refreshing. I think it's better like this. I don't think there will be criticism of me ruining the tradition."
Wai encourages his children to modernize their performances with western pop music and masks of pop cultural figures.
His daughter Hathor, in her late 20s, has been performing Bian Lian for six years.
She added an homage to Michael Jackson by using his song and copying his signature dance moves in her routine.
Performer Hathor said, "I use Michael Jackson music and his dance moves because he is my idol. When I first decided to put some western elements into my performance, I knew I must include Michael Jackson because he was famous worldwide."
Hathor also uses modern masks of popular characters like Spider-Man and Doraemon, a popular Japanese cartoon character.
While her younger brother, 22-year-old Joe Wai Choi-hung, adds miming into his act.
Wai Shui-Kwan has won many trophies and accolades from his Bian Lian performances, but none is more impressive than the Bian Lian world speed record of 58 masks in one live five-minute performance. However, 61-year-old Wai is not stopping at this achievement. He is working hard to increase that number to reach his new goal of one hundred masks.
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