Kun Qu Opera

As one of the oldest traditional folk operas in China, Kun Qu is considered as an orchid among all forms of china’s performing art, due to its graceful lines and exquisite makeup. From the Middle Ming Dynasty to the Middle Qing Dynasty, Kun Qu had been in the dominant position in performing art in China for centuries. Branches of operas have been evolving from the Kun performing system, which makes Kun Mother of All operas. Besides, Kun Qu boasts the most complete performing system among all Chinese opera art. With abundance of cultural heritage and solid foundation, Kun Qu has been playing a prominent role in the history of Chinese literature, traditional operas, music and dance.

 

Why do we hope to work out the albums?

 

*The extreme beauty. The beauty in Kun Qu stories like Peony Pavilion and The Palace of Eternal Youth, image and singing style is astonishing. With the help of photography, image, makeup and the romance in the stories can be fully expressed in a visual way.

 

*China Times. 2008 Beijing Olympics has aroused the worldwide attention for China. And the upcoming 2010 Shanghai Expo will be another opportunity for Chinese to demonstrate their culture to the world. We would love to have the albumss published overseas in the hope that Chinese traditional cultures and aesthetics can be revalued.

 

*The long history. Kun Qu Opera is one of the oldest and most complete performing art systems in China. Ever since it came into being at the district of Kunshan near Suzhou in the mid-14th century, Kun Qu has been artistically refined over a period of 200 years and has stood out prominently among the various competing schools of opera in China for its “delicate tunes and elegant melodies”. Over the last 600 years, its peak times were witnessed respectively in Qing and Ming dynasties. The opera has suffered a gradual decline since the eighteenth century because of the high-level technical knowledge it also requires from its audience. In 2001, it was honored by UNESCO as one of 19 outstanding cultural forms of expression from different regions of the ‘Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity’.

 

*New Fashion. Over the last years, the trend has come back. College students and young professionals are stepping into the realm of the opera and relate Kun Qu to fashion. We would love to introduce the opera to bigger audiences.

 

Why don’t we choose to work with Chinese publishers?

 

*Chinese publishers are more interested in the works that are already published overseas. We hope that the publishing of the albumss can arouse the attention of the local publishers, which may make the copyright import possible.

 

*With the recommendation of those renowned artists like Shi Mo, we are planning on the art photo exhibitions in America, which can help boost the sales of the albums. In this way, an American publisher is the first choice.

 

*The Chinese market for the trade of art works is not mature enough for art photography at the moment. We hope the publishing of the albums can help the trade of the photos, while the trade can do good to the sales of the albums.

 

What’s so special about the albums?

 

6 months have been spent on the project. We’ll take another 6 months to work out two albums.

 

Pink Kun Qu. With pink as the theme color, we may develop a well-known story, for example Peony Pavilion or Zi Chai, the glamorous photos of the garments, makeup and stage performances being illustrated in it.

 

Colorless Kun Qu. In all black and white, the albums records the daily skill practicing of the artists, the portraits, the thoughts and the talks with the best Kun Artists under of the purpose of showing the charm and spirit of the opera.

 

We plan to give speeches, exhibitions and salons in order to promote the art photos and the Kun art. Part of the revenues will be dedicated to the prominent Kun artist of the year.

 

How do we do with the albums?

 

a.       Have it published in America

b.       Give speeches, exhibitions and salons

c.       Have media coverage in China

d.       Help to import the copyright to China

 

Who are we?

 

Director

Steven An, co-founder/editor-in-chief of YesHJ.com, China’s largest media that specialize in languages and cultures

Co-founder of Ying et Steven’s Modern Arts Studio, produced Children’s drama Kongfu Rabbit and MBA Wolf and modern dance The Vanishing Dreams

Supervised the production of the independent production Vertical Farms, which was nominated in short film category of 2008 Beijing Student Film Festival.

Producer and host of the talkshow Talk to Steven. Interviewed Nicholas Negroponte, author of Digital Life, Yue-sai Kan, renowned entrepreneur and TV producer, Yu Minhong, president of New Oriental technology and education group, Jin Xing, modern dance artist, Laura Fygi, jazz diva and so on. Over 300 cultural icons and renowned entrepreneurs have been guest to the show.

Judge for CCTV Hope English speech Competition in 2005

Judge for SAGE International Students’ Entrepreneurship Competition in 2004

Started Free English magazine in 2002

Published Give Me Five in 2003（Shanghai Jiaotong University Publishing House）

Published YingSha Series in 2005（World Affairs Press）

Published Steven Interactive English (3 volumes) in 2007（Shanghai Jiaotong University Publishing House）

 

Photographer

Jacky Tao

Has been in love with photography since his childhood

Has been a professional with magazines and brands for over 5 years

Always he’s been into documentary photos.

 

Advisor

Shi Mo

One of the best-known ink painting artists in China

Now lives in the US

 

Contact

Steven An

+ 86 13918228734

E-mail: hjsteven@vip.163.com

MSN:alaanjailiang@hotmail.com

 

Some Sample Photos