Nuo Opera

My Photo scholarship 2010 entry

China | Monday, September 27, 2010 | 5 photos

The story

Nuo, an odd word, even people with certain educational level do not know it. It is now well into the ranges of uncommon words and uncertain when, it will completely disappear from modern young people's glossary.

Combined with certain kind of mischief dramatically, Nuo is a solemn ceremony held by ancient people in China every Lunar New Year, as a conversation between men and God. The masks used during the Nuo Opera are called "Buddha Face". After the ceremony of the fete, the urban people put on their masks and “turn” themselves into infinite instead of human beings.
After the gongs, drums and firecrackers, the ceremony begins from chaos with dances and singing. Previous Nuo Opera is quite magnificent and attended by both officers and the society. However, with most of the young people leave their villages and go into the cities, Nuo is now mostly operated by elders or young children. The official script handwritten by elder people spreads out gently, a cigarette lightly lighted and a cup of tea infused, unfolds the mental scenery of Chinese nation’s long and remote history in front of our eyes…

About me

Born and raised in Shanghai, China. Wenjie Yang is currently based in New York City and she was just graduated in the International Center of Photography’s Documentary Photography and Photojournalism Program.

After receiving her BFA from the Beijing Film Academy in 2000, Wenjie worked as an executive producer in advertising and associate director in the film industry.

In 2008 Wenjie was the recipient of the National Geographic International Photography Contest China Region 3rd Prize.