Masks

I have been working with ways to express a suppression of emotions in a metaphorical way. An obvious metaphor that came to mind was a mask. A projected image of what one wants the world to see, regardless of what is truly going on inside, behind the mask. I have done some research on masks in art and culture and here is what I found interesting:

We Wear the Mask

by Paul Laurence Dunbar

We wear the mask that grins and lies,

It hides our cheeks and shades our eyes,--

This debt we pay to human guile;

With torn and bleeding hearts we smile,

And mouth with myriad subtleties.

Why should the world be overwise,

In counting all our tears and sighs?

Nay, let them only see us, while

We wear the mask.

We smile, but, O great Christ, our cries

To thee from tortured souls arise.

We sing, but oh the clay is vile

Beneath our feet, and long the mile;

But let the world dream otherwise,

We wear the mask!

Funerary mask of Tutankhamun

"Funerary masks and other facial coverings for mummies emphasized the ancient Egyptian belief in the fragile state of transition that the dead would have to successfully transcend in their physical and spiritual journey from this world to their divine transformation in the next. Hence, whether worn by the living or the dead, masks played a similar role of magically transforming an individual from a mortal to a divine state. " -source: http://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/masks.htm

Mardi Gras Mask

"Imagine walking through a true masquerade ball of olden day New Orleans. Men dressed in their finest tuxedos and women in magnificent ball gowns. Everyone dons a mask leaving much to the imagination. Elaborate stick masks entice others at the ball with only seductive eyes and sensuous lips exposed. The mystery behind a mask lives today in New Orleans for one magical day, Mardi Gras.

Masks have been worn in New Orleans during masked balls for centuries. Masking originated with secretive organizations (carnival crews) and the secret upper class. No one knew who they were and they could stay anonymous. The concept of wearing masks moved to the street where everyone would wear a mask and have a big celebration on the street."

source: http://www.mardigrasday.com/mask.php