Cutting it out

Today I removed the chicken wire that I had used for the skeleton for my paper maché, and proceeded to cutting out the mask. This was more troublesome than I had expected. Some parts at the edges of my paper maché were really thin, and I had to be careful not to break them. I managed to slightly crack a corner, but sut some more paper maché on, and I think that fixed it. The other difficulty was cutting the thick areas. I discovered that my 3D-buildups around the nose that I had created last time, were extremely difficult to cut through, especially when I had to be so careful with the thin part. Then I discovered that the mask was a bit too flat, something which looked kinda weird, but all in all I think it went quite well, especially after I smoothed the edges and added some white base-paint so it didn't look so newspapery.

Working on my mask

Here's my work in progress. It's a bit difficult to see, though, due to all the
paper maché glue.

Today I started working on my mask. I had designed it on beforehand (see previous post), and knew that I needed the paper maché that I would use to create my mask, to cover the eye area. However, I had some difficulties making it 3D and knowing where build-ups should be, for example the shape and positioning of the nose. Therefore I put paper maché on a wider surface area than I would actually use when cutting it out, so that it was easier to determine what the shape of the mask should look like.

Designing my mask

Today I designed my venetian mask. I wanted it to cover just the eye area, as opposed to the full face, because I like these, and think they appear very nice. However, I also wanted it to portray something more than it just being a simple mask, so I divided my mask into two parts. The right part showed what a person shows the rest of the world. It wants the other people to think that it is a beautiful, successful and happy person. What people don't know, is what the person is actually feeling on the inside; sadness, pain, and suffering. This is what I portrayed in the left part.

Culture

After sacking Byzantium, The Venetian Republic took over the role of ancient Athens and Byzantium as the main trade centre in the region, thereby controlling the trade on the Mediterranean Sea. It imported many products between Western Europe and the rest of the world, especially the Byzantine Empire and the Islamic World.

Soon, the Venetian Republic became a flourishing trade centre, and it became a major maritime power during the Renaissance. It also became famous for their roving and warlike spirit, their keen business men, and their pride. Furthermore, the manufacture silk and woollen textiles developed rapidly during the sixteenth century. Another thing they Venetians were famous for, were their beautiful masks.

Country

The Republic of Venice (Venetian: Repùblica Vèneta), formally known as the Most Serene Republic of Venice, was a state located in South Europe, originating in the city of Venice in Northeastern Italy and existed for over a  millennium, from the late 7th century to its fall in 1797.

Cover sheet

Guiding Question: What’s under a mask?

Area of Interaction: Human Ingenuity

What am I going to cover in this unit?

• Masks in history and different cultures
• Design and build your own mask, which reflects you in some way.
• Follow creative cycle (Investigate, plan, create, evaluate.)

Specifications for your mask:

• Wearable and/or hangable
• 2-D elements (painted)
• 3-D elements (sculpted)
• Contain both naturalistic and symbolic elements that reflect yourself

(if it is naturalistic it becomes more like a self portrait; if it is symbolic, it

appears more abstract.)

Things to consider: How do you appear to others? How do you want others

To see you? What identity do you want to have?

Masks

Today we started a new unit about masks. We are to make our own mask from paper maché, based on our research on a certain culture which utilized masks.
After discussing masks using some examples, we started to individually research the different masks in various cultures. I found the masquerade masks especially enticing, as they're so beautiful, and I feel I can relate to them and I really like them.

Here are some masks that I found especially beautiful, and that I will use for inspiration for when I make my own mask.