Theatrical Costume of Beijing Opera as a Phenomenon of Stage Image Creation: Tradition and Transformation

Abstract

The purpose of the article is to identify the artistic, figurative, compositional and typological features of the theatrical costume of Beijing Opera of the late 19th – early 21st centuries and to trace the mechanisms of transformation of tradition in the modern stage space. The research methodology is based on the complex application of historical and art-historical, formal-typological and iconographic analysis, as well as the semiotic method in order to interpret the symbolism of colours, ornaments and cut; the comparative method – in order to compare traditional and modern scenographic practices. The scientific novelty lies in the complex consideration of the theatrical costume of Beijing Opera as a separate artistic system of stage image creation, which has its own structural, semantic and plastic logic. The typology and distribution of costumes according to the role, functional purpose and decorative and compositional features are specified; ornamental-symbolic motifs and their role in the formation of the stage character are generalised. For the first time, attention is focused on the interaction of the cut design, colour and ornament of the theatrical costume as a single artistic complex. The main directions of the transformation of the tradition in the 20th–21st centuries are determined, in particular, the simplification of the decorative system, experiments with materials, stage stylisation and adaptation to modern production conditions. Conclusions. As a result of the research, it was established that the theatrical costume of the Peking Opera functions as a synthetic visual complex, in which decorativeness, plasticity and symbolic significance form a holistic system of the stage image. Its compositional structure is based on the principles of canonicity, generalisation of form and a clear colour hierarchy. Historical development testifies to the constancy of basic types and symbols, while the modern stage demonstrates the flexibility of the tradition, capable of being reinterpreted without losing its identifying features. Thus, the costume acts not only as a decorative element of the performance, but also as a key visual factor that determines the artistic integrity and visual recognition of Peking Opera in the globalised cultural space.