sketches from the peking opera

When I studied in Beijing in the late 1970s – early 1980s, I lived near the opera building. At first, I went once a week, then often every day. It was a bewitching experience.


The building had a long tradition, but it was relatively simply furnished. The simple cement floor allowed visitors to spit noisily on the floor, and that was quite common during the winter months. It was also practical, as many visitors were constantly nibbling sunflower seeds and thus were able to simply spit the shells on the floor. The shells often flew past my head.

more early sketches

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One response to “sketches from the peking opera”

  1. […] I last watched this opera 40 years ago, when it was performed as a Peking Opera. This time, it took the form of a Wu Opera. Decades ago, I often sketched scenes during Peking Opera shows, which were just minutes away from the academy where I lived. Back then, I often visited several performances each week. One memory that stands out involves an amusing tradition. As I sketched, sunflower seed husks flew past me. Nibbling on sunflower seeds and casually spitting out the husks in wide arcs was, and likely still is, a cherished custom of opera-goers in China. [sketches from the Peking Opera] […]

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