Exhibition of Mei Lanfang's opera hand gestures opens

Presented by Prince Kung's Palace Museum and the Mei Lanfang Memorial, the exhibition "Mei Lanfang's Opera Hand Gestures" opened at the Ledao Hall on Sept 12.

Mei Lanfang (1894-1961) was a distinguished Peking and Kunqu Opera artist in 20th-century China. To commemorate the 130th anniversary of his birth, this exhibition focuses on the artistry of hand gestures in his performances.

Hand gestures like lanhua zhi (orchid figures), small as they seem, are a vital element that embodies the aesthetic features of Chinese opera performance, such as formalism and symbolism. As a cross-dressing actor, Mei Lanfang creatively developed the hand gestures for female roles, drawing inspiration from earlier artists, Kunqu operas, paintings, Buddhist mudras and the natural world. His richly crafted and graceful hand gestures captured elegance and dignity, greatly enhancing the expressive power and aesthetic depth of the stage performance.

Featuring a collection of photographs of Mei Lanfang's hand gestures from the Mei Lanfang Memorial, alongside historical artifacts, documents and contemporary artworks reinterpreting his hand gestures, the exhibition reveals the emotional depth and artistic beauty of Mei's hand gestures, capturing the essence of Peking Opera and the richness of Chinese culture.

In the ancient architecture of Ledao Hall, the exhibition unfolds in seven sections, each named after one of Mei Lanfang’s signature hand gestures.

The first section, "Facing the Wind: Introduction", explores the origin of the orchid finger gesture and the background and characteristics of Mei Lanfang's 53 orchid finger poses.

The second section, "Fragrance Imbued: Bare Hand Gestures", highlights how Mei Lanfang's bare hand gestures express complex emotions like joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness, and are also used to indicate direction in daily life and etiquette.

The third section, "Grasping the Stem: Gestures with Props", introduces Mei Lanfang's 25 gestures involving props, demonstrating the harmony between hand gestures and stage props, while balancing aesthetic appeal with practical props use. 

Sections four through six—"Bearing Dew: Cultural Foundations", "Spreading Fragrance: International Outreach" and "Being Nurtured by Rain: Passing the Legacy"—respectively explore Mei Lanfang's profound cultural attainments as an artist, his dedication to introducing Chinese opera abroad, and his careful mentorship of the following generations.

The seventh section, "Unfolding Petals: A New Era", showcases contemporary artworks inspired by Mei Lanfang’s hand gestures, vividly illustrating the timeless charm of his hand gesture art.

Two iconic features of the exhibition are detail and integration. Visitors can delve into the details of Mei’s life and hand gesture art, while admiring the integration of historical artifacts and photos with contemporary creations. Among the rare artifacts on display, there is a fan gifted to Mei Lanfang by Indian poet Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941), and Mei's costume and twin swords used in performing Farewell My Concubine.

Additionally, the exhibition presents an original digital interactive experience, "Mirror of Makeup", allowing visitors to immerse themselves in Mei Lanfang's stage artistry and the beauty of Peking Opera.

The exhibition will run until Dec 15, 2024.