Paul Lukin is a Croatian-born documentary photographer and photojournalist based in Bangkok, Thailand. Lukin likes to work on long-term, self-assigned projects in Southeast Asia. Primarily in black and white, his work blends multiple genres, including photojournalism, street photography and fine art. Lukin is a finalist of the Sony World Photography Awards 2018. His work has been exhibited worldwide, including at the prestigious Somerset House in London.
In this collection of photographs, Lukin introduces the reader to a unique theatrical form of Chinese opera, with dramatic, full-colour photographs of actors, taken in natural light at live performances in Bangkok.
Chinese opera, together with the Greek tragicomedy and Indian Sanskrit opera, are the oldest dramatic art forms in the world. It combines music, art and literature into one performance on the stage.
What most appeals to foreigners might be the different styles of facial make-up ancient warriors used to scare off the enemy, which require distinctive techniques. Exaggerated designs are painted on each performer's face to symbolize a character's personality, role, and fate. Besides colour, lines also function as symbols.
