Masked

The Masked Series is an exploration of ceramic masks and their relationship with the projection of identity, ideals, and protection. As a Neurodivergent individual, masking can be described as the projection of typically observed behaviors, as a means of assimilating within Neurotypical ideals. Because these behaviors are often not inherently natural to Neurodivergent people, they can create an uncanny discomfort to Neurotypical people, which lead to the first in the series:

Masked 01

The mask was hand sculpted, referencing classically considered idealized proportions associated with male beauty standards, and then a portrait was projected and painted onto the mask, selected to represent features I would have considered the ideal of male beauty growing up. It is within the mis-alignment of the portrait and the sculpted features, that leads to its otherwise unsettling presence.

Masked 02 (Memorial)

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Process and Development

Masked 03 (Queen of coins)

Masked 3 (queen of coins) came from the realization in starting the masked series, that masking is something that can be controlled, I can choose the features with which I project in order to create the kind of life I want to live. In consciously deciding what my mask is, instead of just reflecting the ideals placed onto me based on my gender assigned birth, and by that of my community and upbringing.

Within the tarot, the queen of coins symbolizes an easy mastery of the physical world, and resources that I want to align myself with.

This piece was an integral step in the development of the wizard, and made me realize the potential for bringing these pieces into the real world.

Masked 04 (Hero)

Masked 4 (Hero) is the next step in development of my masked series. This piece was developed to address visual challenges in earlier works, where painted features were misaligned with the mask’s contours, and to emphasize the intentionality of the alignment, and improve legibility.