The Peony Pavilion & Impression Liu

Actually before I started to do my works, I also researched some site-specific performances in China. The first one was The Peony Pavilion in ancient water town Zhujiajao which helped me understand how could Chinese Opera be performed in a real space, especially it was the same play and also near by lake. I could know learn the advantages from them, for example, the lighting skill. The second one was Impression Liu which was modern site-specific show but the story was an ancient Chinese story. Compare to The Peony Pavilion, Impression Liu was much bigger. The show was performed between the mounts and water. So this show was a good reference for my last stage (the huge palace). This two high quality site-specific show let me know that Chinese audience accepts traditional script site-specific play. 

I think my design is between this two performance. Mine idea is bigger than The Peony Pavilion in ancient water town Zhujiajao but smaller than Impression Liu. 






   

The Peony Pavilion in ancient water town Zhujiajao which was a site-specific performance in a historical interest exactly in an traditional Chinese garden. About the set design, designer did change much from the site. Just like Mike Pearson mentioned in his book Site-Specific Performance " Location can work as a potent mnemonic trigger, helping to evoke specific past times related to the place and time of performance and facilitating a negotiation between the meanings of those times." 

The reflection on the water was the effect I wanted to achieve.  

They used the bright light to enhance Du Liniang's emotion when she went to the garden frist time.  

The soft and warm yellow light came with her lover.

Cold white light when she went to the Underworld.

Unfortunately, I didn't see this opera in person. But it's still very useful for me that I could clearly knew how this opera work on the lake via these pictures. 

Impression Liu

Impression Liu was a high budget production site-specific performance. Six hundreds of performers acted on the huge lake. Every set with beautiful light effects, they even lighted up the mountains beside the lake. Light and reflection combined together became a fascinating picture. 

     

http://www.travelchinaguide.com/attraction/guangxi/yangshuo/impression-sanjieliu.htm

costume design

I did few costume design. It's not much couse I didn't have extra time to finish it. But at least these could show my idea about the costume with the sets. 

This is the traditional costume, I drew it to think what element that I wanted to maintain. 

This is the costume I designed. I maintained the water sleeve. Because water sleeve is very important in Chinese opera. Performers use wave water sleeve in different way to show their emotions. The bamboo- pattern represented Liu Mengmei was a scholar. In Chinese culture, bamboo always is a simple of gentlemen and scholars. 

In my design, I used printing instead of embroidery. The new costume was tighter which could show Du Liniang's body shape. The pattern of the dress was according to my inspirational art work.

When Du Liniang became a ghost, I let her dressed white dress. Because white is the simple of death in Chinese.  

technical drawing & story board

Unfortunately, I only did one technical draw because I ran out of time. But it's nice that I learned how to use Auto CAD.

model making -- the Palace

It believes that the emperor of china was son of dragon, so “dragon pattern” is only for the emperor. So I put the dragon-pattern on the roof which means it's a palace.  

In Chinese architecture, the angle of larmiers show the owners’ status. The emperor is the most powerful person, so the degree of larmiers of palace is high. 

model making -- the Banquet

In ancient Chinese culture, wealthy high class likes to use coin-shaped pattern to show their status. In this set it shows Du Bao is  a man of influence in this country.  

ancient Chinese coins

model making -- Plum Shrine & the Grave

model making -- the Underworld

The judge sits on a flame-pattern chair means he controls the Underworld so he doesn’t afraid of “fires of hell”. 

The stage in the surrounding. 

model making -- the pavilion & the study room

I knew that I'm not good at painting, but I think I'm good at model making. So I sent many time to make models because It's the best way to show my project. And laser cut helped me to cut the beautiful lines and shape which let me could do more detail on the models. 

My draft model

Laser cut

Before I started to make models, I found out some problems. So I modified a bit. 

In my concept drawings, at first I wanted to build a walk way on the water. But concerned about it might not easy to build, I used boats instead of walk way.

Fretwork roof: flower-pattern 

The stage in the surrounding.

the Route

After I finished concept drawings, It's time to arrange the positions and the route. I drew 1:200 and 1:800 scale map.   

I also made 1:200 scale models. After I put them on my ideal positions, I went to Highfiled Park to walk the route. fortunately, the stages were close to each other. 

this is the finial route 

  

the palace

The Chinese palace was the last stage. The brick balcony in front of Trent building which was a good choice. It looked like a part of castle. 

In Chinese culture, the emperor was the most powerful person who was son of dragon. His status was the highest one. So I put his seat in the highest place. 

   

the Banquet

After Du Bao wan the war, he hosted a banquet to celebrate it. Liu Mengmei came to visit him. 

My idea was put tables and cushions on a big flat. Audience could sit on the cushions be the guests of Dou Bao. On the other hand, Du Bao sat on a big chair in front of huge Chinese screens. (To show that Du Bao is the wealthy host.) 

The short table