blog 10 art project

I chose all three of these masks because the represent my personality. The first one is the funny out going side of me. It represents how much fun I love to have and how I make people laugh. The second mask is supposed to represent danger. I chose this one because I do have a dangerous side to me that comes out when I get extremely mad. So this mask is an example of that side. The last mask I chose is a representation of dance. The dance that is used when using this mask is to thank the gods. This represents me because everyday I thank god for everything I have and I dance because I am happy.

Description of mask one: Colombia, 7.6 inches, painted wood. This mask was made for the tourist trade, it exaggerates the features of the mountain dwelling Indian people of the area.

The second mask is called Pumbu, which is one of the three types of helmet masks owned by Pende chiefs, and is considered the most dangerous. The performer dresses in the chief's garb and brandishes a warrior's bow, arrow, and sword, symbolizing the chief's power to make war and execute criminals (in pre-colonial times). The interlacing diamond pattern signifies chiefship; the mask's white rimmed eyes express uncontrolled anger. The mask appears only in times of social crisis, when the chief must assert his authority. The performer must be restrained by ropes, and onlookers are kept at a safe distance by young men wielding whips. At the end of the dance, the mask breaks loose and kills a stray animal (chicken or goat) to display its deadly power. According to one scholar, "Pumbu depicts the courage that the chief must sometimes muster to address life-and-death issues."

The last mask is Shigong dance masks. They were used in shamanic rituals to thank the gods, while nuo dance masks protected from bad spirits.

Some of the elements that were in my painting were line, rthym, and shapes. It had rhythem because of the different shapes that were on the mask and the music note that I added on to it. Line because the line on the top of the mask are used to represent the piano which represents music. I also used the shapes that are on there to make it look exotic.

I believe my mask represents who I am as a person. A person that is very nice and kind. Who loves music and loves to be pretty. Even though she may have a dark side, she tries not to let anyone get the best of her.

http://www.masksoftheworld.com/SoAmerica/Colombian%20Character%20Mask%202.htm
http://cti.itc.virginia.edu/~bcr/Bayly/Pende_pumbu_chief_a.JPG
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Beijing_opera_mask.jpg