

red hong yi renders chinese scenes out of makeup

(above) guilin mountains and river made of loose powder

all images courtesy of ‘red’ hong yi



china will celebrate its new year this friday, january 31st and in celebration, designboom brings you the latest work of shaghai-based artist and architect ‘red’ hong yi, who has used makeup purchased throughout the bustling metropolis to create landscapes, portraits, and small scenes on paper. ‘make-up and chinese art’ illustrates opera masks, firecrackers, cherry blossom trees and goldfish — cultural and traditional symbols of the country — drawn with household beauty items like lipstick and mascara. on the connection between her craft and medium, red says, ‘chinese art requires a lot of precision and skill — one stroke can make a huge difference, and many times, less is more. I felt that this is similar to how a woman carefully puts on her make-up.’ red will post an image from the series on her instagram throughout chinese new year, which lasts for 15 days.



fiery red firecracker lipstick



chinese opera mask of zhu bajie or ‘pig’ in journey to the west



tiny village and a red hot sun, painted with nail polish



pine tree painting — leaves made of fake eyelashes stuck on with eyelash glue, and liquid eyeliner for the trunk

cranes made of damp cotton wool, eyeliner and bits of lipstick



happy year of the horse!