To commemorate the comedy legend Leung Sing-por on the 110th anniversary of his birth, the Hong Kong Film Archive (HKFA) of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, in association with UA CineHub, is holding the exhibition "Leung Sing-por・The Silhouette on Stage and Silver Screen" from today (August 3) to October 29 at the 1/F Foyer of the HKFA. The exhibition revisits Leung's silver screen career and his signature acting style, which integrated the techniques of Cantonese opera, as a tribute to the master performing artist.
Affectionately known as Uncle Por (1908-1981), Leung was born Leung Si-hoi in a renowned Cantonese opera family in Singapore. In 1939, Ma Si-tsang invited Leung to come to Hong Kong for career development. During the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong, Leung and his family were forced to move to other places including Guangzhou. Leung returned to Hong Kong after the war and, becoming chubby, he made a transition in his operatic role from wenwusheng (civil and military male role) to chousheng (comic male role). It was through the latter that Leung became known as the "King of Chousheng" for his virtuoso status.
Leung was acclaimed for his ability to move deftly between stage and screen, fusing the two art forms into a performance style uniquely his own. In 1941, Leung made his on-screen debut in "Chaos in the Universe", and he starred in over 400 movies afterwards, essaying many memorable characters like Leung Sing-sung who poses as the manager of a tycoon's company with a smoking cigar, the Dunce, Silly Wong and Obese Cantonese. Leung was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire in the 1977 Honours List for his artistic contributions, making him the first Hong Kong artist to receive the honour.
In addition, the exhibition will also be held from August 18 to October 31 at the cinema of UA iSquare.
Admission to the exhibition is free. For details, please call 2739 2139 or visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/HKFA/en_US/web/hkfa/programmesandexhibitions/highlights/highlights52.html.
Follow this news feed: East Asia