Portrait of a master face-changer/變臉大師

http://www.scmp.com/video

Wai Shui-kan (韋瑞群) spent the last 20 years mastering 'bian lian' (變臉), or face-changing, a 200-year-old Chinese art form that involves changing face masks with a sleight of hand. He was shot to fame on a Chinese TV show in 2007 where he changed 44 masks in 3 minutes, breaking a Guinness World Record.

Face-changing is still kept a well-hidden secret to outsiders although it's centered around a trigger mechanism that enables the change. Wai explains it's also about how well a practitioner combines technique, body movement and charisma in order to put on a good show.

In this video, we speak to 'Master Wai' about the art-form. Also, watch him do his sublime and quick face changes at a fundraising show for SCMP Home for Hopes.

過去二十年，韋瑞群一直潛心鑽研變臉藝術。此藝術在中國已有二百年歷史，表演者一揮手，即可將臉上的面具換走。2007年，韋瑞群為中國一個電視節目演出，在三分鐘內換了44張面具，打破健力士世界紀錄，也因此一舉成名。
變臉效果可由抹、吹、扯三種手法造成，但箇中奧秘仍然不為外人所知。韋瑞群解釋，表演者須配合技術、肢體動作和個人魅力，方能令演出嘆為觀止。
在本視訊訪問中，本報將專訪韋大師，暢談變臉藝術。觀眾更有機會欣賞他在「南華早報希望之家」籌款晚會上的精彩變臉表演。