Beautiful vision
When it comes to makeup Mao Geping is a legend. His magical technique transformed the actress Liu Xiaoqing into the historical figure Wu Zetian in 1994. In the TV drama, Wu, played by Liu, then 40, morphed from 15 to 82.
Though more than three decades have passed since he stepped into the field in 1983, he remains a major force.
At the end of March he introduced his latest makeup range from his brand Maogeping at the 751 D Park in the Chaoyang district of Beijing.
Mao, 54, draws inspiration from classical poetry, paintings and costumes that reflect history.
His latest makeup offerings include the Bai Ri Qian Li series, inspired by the Tang (618-907) poem called The Stork Tower by Wang Zhihuan.
Bai ri means white sun, and qian li means thousands of li (a Chinese unit of measurement that equals about 1,640 feet).
The poem highlights the beauty of nature and encourages people to seek ever grander views.
In the Eastern Han Dynasty (25220), the ti zhuang look was known for its morbid beauty. And to attain the look, women applied rouge or removed some foundation from the corners of the eyes, to create the “crying eyes” effect.
However, Mao’s team modified the look with the base in white and two pieces of metallic silver material used as eyebrows.
His Jin Se Sheng Shi (The Golden Age) series is based on the
fo zhuang look that was common in the Tang and Song (960-1279) dynasties.
Then, the northern minorities applied golden paint to their faces to avoid being mistaken as prostitutes, and later just for skin care.
For the series, Mao uses gold as the main colour, and blends it with black for different levels of brightness around the eyes, besides using golden sequins as extra decoration.
The Jiang Shan Hong Yan (The Beauty of the Land) series is a combination of light colours. The series is inspired by the
Qian Li Jiang Shan Tu (A Panorama of Rivers and Mountains), a Song Dynasty landscape scroll painting by Wang Ximeng done with blue and green mineral pigments.
Here the eye makeup comprises cyan and red, which creates the outline of a butterfly. And sharp and short eyebrows in black point straight up like tentacles.
The models’ lips are not fully covered with a deep red rouge but the centre is.
Such lip makeup was favoured by the royals in ancient times, and it still looks modern.
Separately, elements like the round fan from the Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 220) and hats called
gugu guan, traditional head-wear worn by the Mongolian women in the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368) are used to show Chinese traditional culture.
For his Tao Hua Su Yuan (Peach Blossom Traces to the Root) range, inspired by Tao Hua Yuan
Ji (Peach Blossom Spring), written by Tao Yuanming in the Jin Dynasty (265-420), colours such as peachy pink, rose red, lake blue and jade green are used.
Here, with pink on the cheeks and lips, models look like peach blossoms. The eyebrows are done in different colours, and delicate accessories are carefully stuck at the end of eyebrows.
Mao has won many prizes, including four China Makeup Awards, for his work. His team has contributed to many important events including the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games and the 60th anniversary of the founding of New China.