HKUST Arts Festival 2023 - 紛華靡麗：粵劇戲寳及服飾多媒體展 / Resplendent Beauty: On Cantonese Opera Repertoire and Costumes Exhibition
粵劇為嶺南地區獨有的表演藝術，糅合「唱做唸打」與各式各樣的劇情，結合畫部（舞台設計）、衣箱（服飾）、棚面（配樂）等藝術形式走入民間。根據記載，自19世紀中葉已有粵劇戲班在香港演出，戰後香港相對開放的社會風氣和豐饒的物質條件讓粵劇得以蓬勃發展。2009年，粵劇更被列入「聯合國教科文組織」設立的「人類非物質文化遺產代表作名錄」，其歷史意義和文化價值備受肯定。然而，隨著各種娛樂事業的發展，粵劇漸漸式微。爲配合2023年科大藝術節的主題「藝術·文化·多元」，科大藝術中心和圖書館合作主辦是次展覽，讓觀衆重新認識粵劇這門博大精深的本地文化。
展覽選取四部經典名劇為主題，分別為葉紹德的編劇作品《梁山伯與祝英台》及《穆桂英大破洪州》、唐滌生改編的《帝女花》以及李少芸編寫的《連城璧》，每齣戲寶皆以不同時代背景的故事主題為核心，呈現粵劇劇種的多元性。劇作家針對相關題材及敘事結構，編上曲牌（傳統曲調調名）和口白（對白唸詞），創作及改編出齣齣好戲。除了文學修養和寫作技巧，劇作家也必須把演員出入場的方式、換裝的時間、舞台佈景的轉換等細節納入考量，因此必須對粵劇台前幕後的運作有所掌握。
除了精湛的劇本，角色的描繪、佈景的安排以及服飾的搭配也十分講究。人物方面，以四部劇中折子戲裡的主角作展示，其構成包括皇室宗親、達官貴人、武打將領乃至平民百姓等人物。這樣的安排旨在將粵劇的經典人物及其服飾穿搭，分別以蟒、靠、褶及帔四種主要的粵劇服飾類別，及佈景道具的搭配作展示。展覽分別在科大圖書館和逸夫演藝中心以實體和多媒體形式展出，內容豐富，不容錯過。
粵劇的發展隨時代演變不斷，其豐富的表演元素和獨特的表現形式值得大家持續發掘。是次展覽希望打開觀眾對粵劇文化藝術的認識，並在未來有更多接觸粵劇的機會。
Cantonese opera is a unique genre of performing art in the Lingnan area in southern China. It applies singing, acting, recitation and martial arts to a large variety of drama plots, and combines stage design, costume design and music accompaniment to become a folk art in the traditional society. The earliest known records of performances by Cantonese opera troupes in Hong Kong can be traced back to the mid-19th century, and the relatively liberal social atmosphere and affluent material life favored a rapid development in post-war Hong Kong. In 2009, in recognition of its historical significance and cultural value, Cantonese opera was inscribed onto UNESCO’s Representative List of World Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Despite its high cultural status, Cantonese opera is struggling to maintain a sustainable development, a challenge posed by the rapid expansion of entertainment businesses in past decades. HKUST Center for the Arts and the Library co-organize the exhibition as a major event of HKUST Arts Festival 2023. It echoes the theme of AF2023, Arts in Multicultural Hong Kong, to present and hopefully to revive this precious cultural heritage of Hong Kong.
The exhibition focuses on four well-known Cantonese operas, namely, The Butterfly Lovers and Muk Gwai-ying Routing Hongzhou by Yip Shiu-tak, The Floral Princess by Tong Dik-sang and The Priceless Jade by Lee Siu-wan, selected based on the diversity of historical backgrounds and themes, to reflect the wide spectrum of the art form. In the creative process of the librettos, the librettists had to arrange traditional tunes, lyrics and dialogues according to the contents and narrative structure of the drama. In addition to having a profound knowledge of Chinese literature and outstanding writing skills, they had to be familiar with performing routines and stage operation, setting out in the plays details such as how actors appear on the stage, timing for costume change and change of scenes, to name just a few.
The four operas are not only renowned for the excellent screenwriting and portrayal of characters, their stage sets and costume designs are also artworks in their own right. The main characters on display in their respective stage sets here are selected to feature royalties, dignitaries, battle commandants, and last but not least, ordinary people, to illustrate the four major types of Cantonese opera outfits, namely, python ceremonial robes, armor, gowns with a sloping collar (casual clothing for ordinary people) and gowns with a vertical collar (casual clothing for dignitaries), together with their matching headgears. Visitors will discover the beauty of these artefacts and interact with multimedia presentations in the Library and the foyer of Shaw Auditorium.
In its development over a long period of time, Cantonese opera has evolved into a multitudinous performing art form with unique formats of expression. Through presenting the fundamentals of Cantonese opera, this exhibition hopes to inspire the public to explore further opportunities to appreciate this precious art.