Mask Making Project and Exploration

Masks are made and performed in throughout many cultures all over the world. The following masks are ones I found interesting and took inspiration from.

These masks originate from from Venice. They are Venetian Carnival Masks that date back to the 13th century. There original purpose is thought to show rebellion against the rigid society of the times. These masks are made out of paper mache or porcelain. The elements used were line which provides intricate detail to the masks and also head pieces, color which is used throughout the entire pieces to provides cohesion (masks colors correlate with headpieces), and texture which is found in the different fabrics and products used to add detail to the head pieces and some areas of the masks. The principles used were balance and even though not always symmetrical, the masks are not overly detailed in certain areas which makes them pleasing to look at, scale/proportion because the masks are as large as a human face, and none of the details of the face are overly
exaggerated, emphasis because the eyes focus most of the eye area of the masks and float up to the headpiece, and unity because even though the headpieces are loud, they are cohesive with the details that were brought to the masks.

This mask is from the Yaure of Africa. These masks take elements from animals and attractive men and women. They are representations of spirit powers which they use to appease them so that life will no be destroyed, and are specifically used to help members cope with anothers death. Elements used in this mask are line which define the eyes, nose, mouth, and also add much detail to the head piece, form because we can see the 3-D idea of the nose, closed eyes, and the headpiece, texture which we see in the headpiece emphasized also by the use of line, and space which we see in the headpiece that protrudes from the rest of the mask. The principles used were balance because the mask is symmetrical and proportion between all the major parts of the nose, eyes, mouth.












 This is a Marka mask from Mali which is predominately Muslim. The culture discourages the use of masquerade , but they did use since the 7th century masks to provide celebrations. These masks represent spirits and gods and are used to frighten away evil spirits and cure illnesses. Elements used are line which were used in the gold detail throughout the mask, also used to define the face and headpiece, form which defines the head piece, nose, eyes, and mouth which are 3-D, texture which was made by the use of lines in the intricate gold detail, and color which isn't that prevalent, but there are pops of it to emphasize a few areas. Principles used were balance because there is a symmetry of the detail, repetition of pattern throughout the mask and headpiece, proportion because even though not realistic to the human face, all the areas of the masks are equal among one another, and unity where the design of the mask comes together and is one cohesive piece.

The pictures above are of the mask I created and the sketch where I created my idea. I took ideas, elements, and principles from the masks described at the beginning of the post to create my mask. Elements I used were line which I used to emphasize the sides of the face, shape to create a mask, color to bring life to the idea and I correlated in with the headpiece, eye mask, and mouth, and form because I tried to replicate and intricate carnival headpiece by bending the paper to create structure, and I also uplifted the nose to give more definition. The principles I used were balance because I tried to make the mask as symmetrical as possible, emphasis because I used the read paper to guide the eye to the most prominent areas of the piece, and repetition where I added the triangles in a pattern that continues on both sides of the mask. It was interesting to create this mask, but I still believe I do not truly understand the purposes for such masks. I think these practices are so unique to the cultures that have adopted them, and I believe they should be kept as traditions for those cultures. I tried to emphasize key points from many masks into one, and I believe I executed the idea, but the mask is definitely not perfect. Mask making in a cultural context is not for me, and I will leave it with the experts.