Masters of Disguise

The 1-2 neighbourhoods’ are delving into mask making and discovering that superpowers are not restricted to just superheroes. We have been inspired by; American Artist Nick Caves Soundsuits and his creative intentions to not only hide identity, but to also act as an object with superpowers to protect and heal, and Torres Strait Islander artist Toby Cedars mask Op Nor Beizam (Tiger shark mask), 2017 that expresses one of his totems, the tiger shark, which represents law and power. 

We have also been intrigued by the Alor and Nor masks from NGV’s collection. Alor mask (1970s), made by the Tolai people of Papua New Guinea is a stylised carved mask with a feather headdress made to be worn by men during initiation ceremonies and cultural festivals. These masks are used to adorn special structural platforms and houses for special celebrations (NGV 2023).

The Noh mask, Ōbeshimi, was made in Japan in the seventeenth century. Ōbeshimi is used in plays featuring tengu, mythical demons or goblins which live deep in the mountains and have red faces, large noses, wings and supernatural powers (NGV 2023).

In the studio the children are busy designing and creating sculptural masks that express their own ideas, characters and qualities.  As makers, they are enjoying the fun, challenge and battle of building an armature and the messy business of paper mache. The children are designing through making, being intuitive and letting their sculptures grow. They are allowing play, materials and their excellent imagination to lead.  Sculpture is not easy! The children are looking and feeling, changing ideas, testing, cutting and reworking alongside exploring sculptural issues such as balance, gravity, structure and tension and considering how their sculptures’ feel, act and rest.