Meet Leon Alexander: The Icelandic Teen Mastering Chinese Language and Art
- Leon Alexander was just five years old when a viewing of the animated film Kung Fu Panda sparked an obsession that would take him halfway across the world.
- Following that initial cinematic spark, his mother connected him with Hongling Song, a teacher who had recently arrived in Iceland to teach Chinese at the University of Iceland.
- According to Song, Alexander now speaks Chinese as well as, or better than, university graduates in the subject.
Leon Alexander was just five years old when a viewing of the animated film Kung Fu Panda sparked an obsession that would take him halfway across the world. Today, the 13-year-old Garðabær resident has cultivated international recognition through his fluency in Chinese, mastery of martial arts, and proficiency in the traditional theatrical art of face-changing.
From Kung Fu Panda to Fluency
Following that initial cinematic spark, his mother connected him with Hongling Song, a teacher who had recently arrived in Iceland to teach Chinese at the University of Iceland. Alexander stands as the youngest student Song has ever taught. Instruction initially relied heavily on games and pictures. After teaching him at the university for five years, Song began traveling to Alexander’s home three times a week for private lessons.
Mastering the Language and the Masks
The rigorous tutoring paid off remarkably. According to Song, Alexander now speaks Chinese as well as, or better than, university graduates in the subject. While Alexander notes that he cannot write all the complex Chinese characters, he reads them proficiently. For Song, the instructional relationship offered mutual benefits; she credits her time teaching Alexander with helping her learn Icelandic word by word.
In 2023, at age ten, Alexander traveled to China for the first time, accompanied by his parents and Song. The group spent a month in Chengdu, the birthplace of the opera tradition associated with face-changing. During his visits, Alexander learned the traditional performance art, which involves using a fan to briefly cover the face while switching masks in a split second.
Expanding Repertoire Across Eight Trips
Alexander expanded his repertoire over subsequent trips. He started by learning to use four masks, progressed to eight, and currently performs with thirteen. Alongside face-changing, he continues to practice Chinese kung fu and is learning to play the bamboo flute. To date, Alexander has visited China eight times over a three-year period.
Building a Massive Digital Audience
Both Alexander and Song maintain active presences on Chinese social media platforms. Alexander established an account on RedNote, a platform similar to Instagram or TikTok, where he has accumulated 74,000 followers. Song maintains 400,000 followers on Chinese social media, where she documents her life in Iceland.
Alexander’s online activity led to mainstream media appearances in China. He participated in a reality show, worked as a presenter in a video about Shanghai, and was invited to appear on the state-run broadcaster CCTV. The network broadcast a seven-minute news segment featuring an interview with Alexander conducted by a reporter who traveled to Iceland specifically to cover his face-changing performances and language skills.