Since 2004, photographer Hsu Pei-hung has been invited by literary master Kenneth Pai to photograph his productions of Kunqu (one of the oldest and most refined styles of Chinese opera): a “Young Lovers’ Edition” of the Ming-Dynasty play The Peony Pavilion and a new version of The Jade Hairpin.
This version of The Peony Pavilion has been performed at home and abroad over 200 times, and Hsu has photographed every performance in the past decade. But he wasn’t just shooting photos: he was watching and enjoying the opera. “In general, the average shutterbug will simply scrutinize the subject and line up the shot. But I’m not the average passive observer. My heart gets restless when I’m watching opera, and I shoot photos only when something grabs my heart. Every performance is different for me, and I have never tired of watching The Peony Pavilion even though I’ve seen it probably over 200 times.” Perhaps this is why Hsu’s works tend to sustain the lingering charm of the opera for the observer—well after the curtain falls.
Hsu’s 200,000 precious photographs capture with exquisite accuracy the emotions pouring forth in The Peony Pavilion. People can feel the dialogue reaching across the generations between Tang Xianzu (the original writer), Kenneth Pai (whose adaptation this is) and Hsu Pei-hung (the observer). Every photo tells a story.
Hsu Pei-hung was born in Taipei in 1965.
His photography covers a vast range of artistic endeavor, from opera to music and dance.
He has also used his camera to record the wider world. Since 1995 he has been invited eight times by the Dutch government to record scenes across the Netherlands. Then Denmark, Germany, France and Spain all commissioned Hsu to photograph their countries. And in 1998, he was invited by the government of Montana in the US to photograph the state’s spectacular landscapes, eventually visiting the region twice. Thus Hsu has created a rich body of work through journeys and stays that have enriched his life and provided remarkable inspiration for his work.
(source: Hsu Pei-hung)
Shen Fengying and Yu Jiulin (Suzhou, 2004).
Shen Fengying and Yu Jiulin in the scene “Arrival in Hangzhou” (Tianjin, 2006).
Hsu Pei-hung was born in Taipei in 1965. His photography covers a vast range of artistic endeavor, from opera to music and dance. He has also used his camera to record the wider world. Since 1995 he has been invited eight times by the Dutch government to record scenes across the Netherlands. Then Denmark, Germany, France and Spain all commissioned Hsu to photograph their countries. And in 1998, he was invited by the government of Montana in the US to photograph the state’s spectacular landscapes, eventually visiting the region twice. Thus Hsu has created a rich body of work through journeys and stays that have enriched his life and provided remarkable inspiration for his work. (source: Hsu Pei-hung)
Shen Fengying as Du Liniang in the scene “Hell” (Beijing, 2006).
Tang Rong as Judge Hu in the scene “Hell” (Beijing, 2006).
Yu Jiulin in the scene “On the Road” (London, 2008).
Shen Fengying in the scene “Interrupted Dream” (Shanghai, 2010).
Embroidered shoes (Santa Barbara, 2006).
A stick-on sideburn worn by an actress (Hong Kong, 2006).
Producer Kenneth Pai watches Yu Jiulin and Shen Fengying rehearsing (Suzhou, 2013).
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