When we think of art, we probably think of painting a picture on a strong cloth or special paper, even on walls of a city. However, in many cultures people paint their faces instead.
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In fact, face painting may be the very first form of art. Painting faces are in different colors and patterns. This has been part of people's traditions for thousands of years. The way that people painted their faces can tell stories and lessons from the past.
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People still paint their faces for lots of reasons. Patterns on faces connect people to a tribal (部落) family and can show who is the most important person in the family. For fighters, it is a way to make their enemies afraid. Face painting is also used in many ceremonies and special celebrations.
How is face paint important in theater?
Face paint was important in Japanese and Chinese ancient ceremonies. It was also used in traditional theatre to change the actors' roles. Actors in those countries still wear white, black and red face paint today to show feelings and make the bad people look dramatic (戏剧性的) and awful.
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Tribal people make face paint from the natural colors in plants and earth. Plant parts are used to make different colorings. The ingredients are dried over a fire and then made into a powder (粉末). This is then mixed with animal fat.
