Statues --> China

The China's mask belongs to the "Ground Opera" that is a theatrical form born between 1368 and 1398 during the Ming Dynasty. When Ming expanded their territories around 200,000 some armed forces moved from central China to the south-west coast, stopping in the mountains "Tun Pu" (fortress).

Army entertainment had to be done in the open air and for this reason the new theatrical form was played "on the ground" and was called Ground Opera.
During the performance the actors wore costumes and masks that could represent deities, animals or warriors with feather on their heads and/or flags on the back.
In their various historical representations the characters were accompanied by music and percussion.

Nowadays the traditional "Ground Opera" is disappeared. Only the people who live in the isolated villages Pu Tun put up some representations.

People living in these mountains continue to recite the "works of the land" during the harvest season and during the Chinese New Year, as a sign of rich and prosperous life . Ground Opera's masks are very popular Chinese works and they can be found in the museums and art institutes of many countries, including Great Britain, the United States, France, Germany and Japan.

The mask depicted in the statue of Fabrizio Galli is a classic figure of this art form. It was created by Master Wu Wei Ku who is one of the few remaining inhabitants in a village Pu Tun. From hundreds of years his family is specialized in the creation of these particular masks.