This mask is called The Nimba mask and is one of the most massive used in Sub-Saharan Africa. It symbolizes fertility. I chose this mask because I enjoyed it's emphasis on femininity and power. What I thought is interesting is that it doesn't scream feminine. It very rigid and made of wood, which seems more manly then anything. It portrays the Baga vision of woman in her most powerful, beautiful, and socially impressive form. Where most people would assume that a fertility mask would portray very large breast, this mask is opposite.The flatness of her breast is supposed to symbolize show that she has nurtured many children. From the description I learned that Nimba appears annually at the time of planting and harvesting rice.This makes sense because farming and harvesting is often associated with fertility. In Africa, Strong men compete for the honor of wearing the wooden headdress. The men in headress dance to the beat of drums as the women sing and throw rice.This mask embodies texture and space to help the goddess of fertility come to life.
This is a Chinese opera mask and was used for performances of opera in Beijing. The mask is created used the elements of line, color and space. It also uses the principles of unity and balance. I chose this mask because I really was drawn to the look of it. It seems to embody some anger and force. The colors and lines of the mask grab the viewers attention.
This is a Brazilian mask that resembles a parrot. Most likely this mask was created for the famous Brazilian carnival. The famous Brazilian Carnival celebration actually did not start in Brazil. Carnivals began in Europe when the Roman Catholic Church attempted to ban all pagan rituals. Yet, the church failed to expel all of them. They didn't banish the wild spring celebration Europeans immigrating to Brazil in 15th century brought with them. It involved wearing masks, throwing parties, and dancing in the streets. Carnival temporarily suspends most rules of law and society. The emphasis of this carnival was pranking, and wearing masks allowed celebrators to do it anonymously. This is why the masks of brazil are much more light-hearted. The parrot mask is not met to channel any Brazilian gods, just to hid the face of a jester! I like this mask because of the story behind it and because of the bright colors. When I think of Brazil I think of bright colors and exotic birds. This mask uses the elements of space, color to embody the essence of the parrot.The parrot is also composed with the principle of balance and symmetry in mind.
I really liked the Brazilian tradition of masks the best so I decided to make a sultry peacock masks. Rather then represent the childish side of carnivals I wanted to represent the sultriness of the night. The [peacock is supposed to represent the flirtatious nature of a women who is doing something she shouldn't. She let the carnival sweep he away and now she is wearing the mask to hide her true identity. She is able to act on all her inhibitions because no one knows her true identity.
This is my original sketch:
As my design started to unfold it began to loose it's peacock form and started to look more like an imagnative bird but kept it's feminine foundation. I tried to keep the eyes very sultry and the feathers very curvy and womanly. Here is my finished mask:
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