China's He Hongqing World's Fastest Mask Changer

China's He Hongqing World's Fastest Mask Changer

Performance: 4-minutes 40-seconds

Chinese performer He Hongqing (52) is deemed China's fastest "face changer" is a modern incarnation of an ancient, and fading, art form at the heart of traditional Sichuan Opera and where performers rely on silk masks to reflect their characters' mood changes.

He can slip off his masks within a fraction of a second, and has been deemed the fastest face changing artist in the country by state-run China Central Television.

"I adjusted the shutter to a two-hundredth of a second, but I still couldn't see any clues," said Dareen Yao, a tourist from Hong Kong who was trying to unveil He's secrets during a recent performance using his camera.

34 Mask Changes:

Opening on Stage:
1.Yellow 2.Half Red/Half Yellow 3.Light Green 4.Dark Blue 5.Red/Yellow 6.Purple 7.Tan 8.Black

Into Audience:
9.Gray 10.Dark Red 11.Yellow 12.Half White/Half Dark Blue

Back On Stage:
13.Yellow (white) 14.Half white/Half light blue 15.Black/White Design 16.Purple 17.Green/Black 18.Dark Red 19.Peach 20.Red 21.White 22.Yellow/White/Blue 23.Light Purple 24.Dark Red 25.Dark Blue 26.Cherise 27.Half Black/Half Peach 28.Purple 29.Yellow 30.Green 31.Red 32.Dark Green 33.Yellow 34.Multi-colored half mask

No Mask

Modern day performers use full-face painted silk masks, which can be worn in layers of as many as twenty-four. Skilled opera stars can change about 10 masks in 20 seconds. It is amazing to watch actors change their masks with a magical sweep of a hand or the turning of the head. It is difficult to see the masks being changed.

[OmegaKenelly]

I don’t care how it’s done, using wires or whatever, it’s the speed that amazes me. He’s obviously spent years honing this. Because one little fuck up would ruin the entire act but he did this flawlessly. I love it.

[digimon]

I think we and the people there can guess that the masks are just being pulled off, but its the raw talent, speed, enthusiasm, and performance that makes it a show. A true entertainer.

[silkmunny]

Did anyone else feel like it went from cool to kind of threatening?

[TheLuminousOne]

the dark shamanistic beat is incredible

[Kingsnake]

I think they are like sheets and he's pulling them off with his left hand. If you notice his hand is always behind his back during the change. Watch from 2:24-26 in slow motion...you can see it slide down his collar. Still an impressive sleight of hand. Lots of timing and practice went into that routine.

[MargaritaMagdalena]

The masks are ultra thin and he pulls wires to make them fall into his collar. Notice how he always has an arm behind his back when a mask is changed, and also usually shakes his head, looks away, or waves his cape in front of his face. Around 2:22 you can see it falling into his collar. I wonder how he knows which of the many wires to pull next. Very cool.

[JNB]

I'm obsessed with these mask changing magicians. Idc what anyone says demonic or it's just a stupid trick. It's fkg talented and I'm tripping

[ADVENTURESOFBZ]

How??! Dude how?? Some of em are soooo fast!!! Less than a second!!! Absolutely incredible

[MannyKunV]

this is insane. i can see what hes doing but i cant figure out how hes doing it. like when he goes around the table shaking people's hands. he has his other hand inside his coat and for a brief second when he switches mask you can see something white (his hand) appear right under his chin. but thats as far as i can figure out. its amazing

[selinasuryavanshi]

Absolutely phenomenal
And that killer background music

[NetflixButFree]

hes using 2 methods of unveiling the masks. Some are pulled back and some slid down collar depending on the movement hes showing. Very impressive timing.

[BaalAdvocate]

My guess: he's got several thin masks on with some kind of device which pulls them up into the oversized head dress, probably controlled by a device in his off hand or like a toe button.

[LaowaiDaveJCP]

Go to Chongqing to see this show. Great city, food and culture.

[EhlistarsWrath]

Amazing magic. I dunno why tf there’s creepy music playing but whatever

[michaelgodwin]

How many mask’s can that rig hold I’ve only ever seen two masks in one of these changing mask’s but not counting several I mean how many mask’s can that rig hold?? I wonder how many it can hold and still perform as it should????…??

[Alorand]

2:22-2:25
If you use the [, <] and [.>] keys to advance the video one frame at a time you can easily see how the top layer gets pulled off of the mask and down his collar.

[nathanlynch]

No matter how many times I watch these videos I always love them.

[MiaouMaw]

Artists pull wires or threads that somehow activate a spring/tension-loaded device that switches the masks. The wires are pulled discreetly though body twitches and quick movements

[ibidesign]

Check out Bian Lian by searching The Man with Fifteen Faces: Secrets of the Zhejiang Wu Opera

[JohnDoe-zwmk]

1 hand is always in the cover when a mask change is about to happen