Wang’s work of facial makeup of Beijing Opera engraved on a tree leaf. (Photo/Courtesy of Wang Bo.)

Post-90s Chinese man Wang Bo has engraved different types of facial makeup of Beijing Opera on various tree leaves and posts the photos using social media apps, intending to draw the attention of more people to the ancient craft, Chinanews.com reported on Feb.17.

Wang is from southwest China’s Guizhou Province. With previous experience in fine arts, Wang started to learn leaf carving on his own in 2015, and created his first works of leaf carving six months later.

From the scenery of Guizhou to the facial makeup of various characters in Beijing Opera, Wang used over 10,000 tree leaves. So far, he has created nearly 100 leaf carving works on the leaves of Chinese parasols, maples, and bo-trees.

Wang has engraved the facial makeup of seven characters in Beijing Opera on tree leaves, which he used more than 50 tree leaves and spent over a month creating, with red as the keynote tone.

Wang’s work of facial makeup of Beijing Opera engraved on a tree leaf. (Photo/Courtesy of Wang Bo.)

Leaf carving has a long history in China. According to available records, leaf carving works were seen in China in the early Western Zhou Dynasty (1046 B.C.-771 B.C.).

“Beijing Opera is the quintessence of Chinese culture, and the combination of the facial makeup of Beijing Opera and the intangible cultural heritage leaf carving is a creative way to showcase the traditional Chinese craft,” said Wang.

Wang decorated his works of leaf carving to make them into modern artworks, and then posts them on social media apps. “I want more people to pay attention to this ancient traditional craft, and to help bring young people from the fast-paced life to nature,” explained Wang.

Wang’s work of facial makeup of Beijing Opera engraved on a tree leaf. (Photo/Courtesy of Wang Bo.)

Wang expressed that though it is not a joyful work, he enjoys the process very much, disclosing that he will make more leaf carving works and pass the traditional craft down.