Míngjuěr (名角儿)
Lan Liu
Peking opera was very influential in the mid-Qing dynasty (1644–1912), but its’ popularity is in decline. Míngjuěr (名角儿) app is a place for people to learn and interact with Peking Opera masks in the 21st century. Within the app, there are four sections: Discover, Create, Apply, and PekGo.
To let people discover the culture and history of Peking opera—the two main features of the Míngjuěr app show the basic predisposition of a particular character/mask; and how they achieve the contradictory unity of beauty and ugliness. Based on the two main features, I designed the visualization of the Peking Opera mask—and also allow users to create their masks according to their unique personalities and discover the rich history of the Peking opera.
Míngjuěr app attracts users of various age groups, from younger generations to senior citizens. As culture is without boundaries, people in diverse age groups can perceive and enjoy the modern re-enactment and recreation of the Peking Opera. The app's functionalities aim to draw young people's interest and allow the older generation to rediscover information about the past. The App also brings Peking opera to the present by telling the history, creating personalized masks, and giving the opportunity to discover the lesser-known culture of Peking opera performances.