Month: May 2020

I decide to keep develop the idea of shame masks; I pay attention to one particular type of mask which called scolder bridle. This mask often used for women who gossip about their husband. Similar to other shame masks scolder bridle brings the shame to the wears by making a constant bell noise when they walk around. The purpose of shame mask is bringing shame to the people who make mistakes. I came up with an idea of enlarging the face features such as eyes nose and hair in order to raise other people’s attention of the wearers.

I used a bunch of strings to create the fake hair on the mask and extends paper roles from the holes on the mask. The finished object reminds me of Caravaggio’s Medusa painting. If I have more time I would attach wires to the strings to support the loos hair.

I looked at different types of historical masks. The oldest ritual mask was made of thin metal. It was formed based on people’s head it covers up people’s entire face. Thin gold sheet seems quite fragile. This type of mask does not have any holes for wear’s eyes and nose, which gives a sense of dullness. Tinfoil was used to make the response of this mask. Although the tinfoil mask was made quick it also presents the dull feeling.

Comedy and tragedy masks were often used in performance the facial expression on the masks showing characters’ emotional feeling as well as people’s personality. This mask’s function reminds of individual’s fake facial expression when socialize with strangers. They always pretend to be happy when they are in a sad mood in order to show off. I came up with a collage of a of sad person’s face covered up with a happy mask to highlight this issue.

More masks were produced as responses to Iran masks and shame masks. Bandari women worn eye masks with different patterns to define regions. I was inspired by the Islamic hand painting patterns and carve it on the paper mask. My mask shares the leaner shape as the Iran mask, tracing paper’s transparency gives a lighter quality.

I also look at the idea of ‘masking’, which means individual hides their natural expression to confirm social pressure. Masking is an abstract expression it is quite hard to define through actual object. I looked at Banksy’s Graffities, which uses beautiful images masking away negative political effects brought to people’s life.  

In order to produce digital files for the virtual show I experimented with Autodesk Recap, which is a 3D scan software on desktop. This app produces higher resolution 3D files than the one on my phone. It also allows me to edit the scanned object’s rough edges. However, I cannot overlap the object with letters or change its material. I will keep on learning other software such as ‘Mesh mixer’ and ‘Blender’.

Plaster and gold leaf were brushed on mask’s surface, which create a variety of texture. I aim to make a collection of masks towards the degree show. I looked at the collection of ‘Modern Mask’ in MoMa, which displays different masks on a huge white wall. Those masks were designed for different purposes and made of different materials. Hanging masks on a neat wall may be an option for the final show.

Part of my research focuses on masks history I looked at the development of mask’s shape and purpose. This research helps me to explore mask’s media and forms form a historical context as well as bring in inspirations for my mask design.

2ed May

Different material surfaces were added to my digital drawings to visualize the actual finished product. This process is quite helpful during the lock down period, I can play with a broad range of materials once the digital drawing was completed. The dick ring designed for pewter’s live was transformed into glass wear can see through the hollow balls and rings inner structure.

I was inspired by glass’s transparency and came up with a design idea for Coronavirus. I am going to produce hollow glass balls with one human figure inside each ball. Representing the self-isolation and social distance that caused by Corvid-19.