Artist's Statement

Ah…masks. They are seductive and enticing. They are beautiful and sometimes frightening, but they are never dull. We wear them, discard them, hide behind them, embrace new ones, and a times seduce with them. They are very comfortable even when they are a little too tight to put on, because they are masks made up of our fears. In that case it is always difficult to discard them, and it requires awareness to remove them while keeping our sense of self. That’s easier said than done.

However, once the process of removing the layer of masks is initiated, the journey is one of self-discovery leading to great joy and surprises. By removing each mask slowly, with intent of discovering who we really are, we become aware of the beautiful being we have unmasked. We are then unafraid to be that which we are meant to be. Peeling off our masks teaches us to look at ourselves differently. This has to be done without judgment. The process allows us to see our own beauty for the first time. What an accomplishment this is!

Whatever their appearance, masks, in my eyes, are always beautiful. They are the constant reflection of the inner self, unashamed to just be. The mask has no attachment to whatever label we want to give it. It represents truth at the moment of its conception and holds that truth for us to look at. It is a meditation in form, opening our vision to the core of our soul and allows us to feel from our emotions. Therefore the mask is a tool for transformation helping self to be delivered from distorted truth about who we are, and is a metaphor that helps us navigate through our personal mystery. It becomes the container of our spirit set free to explore new perceptions. We have to keep our eyes open, but more than that, we have to keep our hearts open. Masks will always take you on a journey, even if a brief one, to the door of the unknown, the unknown of who you are.

When I started creating masks, or should I say, when they took over my life to show me their way, I was not prepared for such journey of self-discovery and of surrender. My comfort with creating them did not happen overnight. I resisted them for quite some time. Making masks was not part of my plan and all the whining and resisting didn’t lead me anywhere. The masks were doing the driving. I was chauffeured around. They have a patience that is uncanny. So I had to surrender many times. What a concept!

The creative process became a lesson on self-discovery, trust, and patience. It is accomplished one step at the time, or more precisely, one petal at the time since my palette is one of flowers.

Masks aren’t new in man’s life. They appeared very early in time when man started to put mud on his face for rituals and dances. At that moment the first mask was created out of a sacred notion and action. Masks have been carved in woods, adorned with grasses and painted with bright colors, embodying the symbolic figure the shaman or creator wanted to imprint the mask. The mask then became the instrument and the conduit for the ceremony that was to be performed. In its growth through the ages, the masks embraced countless new identities, from the sacred to the mundane. Masks became tools of performance for actors in ancient times, since an actor could not show his face or reveal his identity. Masks were the central figures of plays, and usually were very symbolic.

Many different cultures have used masks for a wide range of reasons depending on their needs. The Japanese, for instance, have created wonderful masks for their traditional performances in the Noh theatre, and to this day, masks are still used with the same respect for the tradition. For Westerners the masks that are the most well known are the masks of the "Comedia dell’Arte". The Italians have been the best craftsmen for such masks. Delightful masks made of fine leather were created to embody the personality of a character that was to be performed on stage. They were usually half masks in order to allow the actor to speak his role. The masks and the actors merged and became the characters that the masks depicted, with the actors being the voice. Today actors still practicing the "Comedia dell’Arte" are very private when rehearsing with the mask for it is an intimate relationship that demands privacy. Embracing the energy of a mask is a profound and personal experience. No one will feel it the same way. It is in itself a spiritual journey, because there is a shift of perception and dimension.

Today, make-up has become the mask. Obviously, not everyone wears make-up, but a mask is put on anyway. And this mask is energy. It vibrates and radiates, and most of the time we are unaware of its effect on people or on ourselves. The energy of the mask is charming and comfortable, and still it is a mask.

In my long journey with mask making I began appreciating their teachings and the mystery they embody which constantly touches us deep in the core of our being. First we discover them with our eyes, and then they touch our hearts so that we can see a reflection activating our search for self..

Indeed they are intriguing mirrors. They are always an intricate and fine tapestry of woven emotions – colorful, gentle and sometimes dramatic – showing the part of self that one seldom acknowledges, our own beauty.

I invite you to embrace their energy and embark on a journey that will take you beyond them. Enjoy!


Peter Sanderson

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About Peter Sanderson