Honors
World Record Holder
Originating from Sichuan Opera, face-changing is a second-degree state secret; Wai-style face-changing art is even more fantastic and wonderful, and has been accredited as a state treasure. Founder Wai Shui-Kwan is now the best-known face-changing master. With distinctive styles created by himself, he has traveled around the world in the past two decades and brought wonderful performances to large companies’ anniversary celebrations and important ceremonies. He even showcased the quintessence of Chinese culture in front of foreign state leaders. Wai Shui-Kwan is the first artist to bring Sichuan’s valuable face-changing techniques to Hong Kong. Besides, he has figured out new creations to enrich the performance and make it more fantastic on the stage. His performances are totally different. After a show, he removes his cloak and hat so that the curious audience can have a good look at him. Much to the audience’s surprise, he comes very close to the audience and shakes hands with them, and suddenly changes faces.
In recent years he has made fresh breakthroughs to make the art form more amazing. On a program on China Central Television in 2007, he set a record of changing 44 faces; a year later, he broke the record with 58 faces. In June 2010, he made an amazing attempt on a TV program with his daughter Hathor Wai - they changed a total of 102 faces, setting a new world record; he changed 70 faces alone. Three months later, he challenged himself again on a Taiwan TV show, and once again created a new record with 76 faces changed on the show.
2010 - present
2010 - present
Characteristics of face-changing performances
Good postures and momentum
With years of school education in drama courses, he is a distinctive artist and can make good postures and movements on the stage.
Rapid and miraculous
He can make face masks without any disguise and change
faces in a flash.
Many face masks can be changed.
Generally speaking, he can change 25-30 faces in a show,
more than most performers.
Amazing
In the middle of a performance, he will come into the auditorium
and meet with guests face to face. When he shakes hands with
guests, he may suddenly change a face.
Unexpected surprise
At any moment before a show is wrapped up, he may suddenly
show a company’s logo or a personal portrait on his face.