ABSTRACT
Contemporary Chinese opera design is at the forefront of Chinese scenography. On the one hand, it embraces boldly re-imagined elements in traditional Chinese art. On the other hand, it actively draws on new ideas in Western art, incorporating installation art, media art, and earth art, appealing to a diverse group of audience members. These innovations signify the valuable explorations by designers, going beyond traditional scenographic limits. The artistic concepts of scenic design in Chinese opera have managed to catch up with development of contemporary and post-modern art worldwide. However, it remains a question worth pondering for the designers as to how to facilitate further and deeper fusion of traditional Chinese art and contemporary Western art, instead of mechanically assembling elements from both. A typical approach has been drawn on the aesthetics of traditional Chinese gardens. Employing cultural elements of the Chinese garden, scenic designers are free to omit, exaggerate, and transform these elements, creating poetic stage picture and space configuration.
