WHY MASKS

By Marta Diez

At a certain time in my life I became aware of the fact that some beings around me had a mask on, that is to say, their representation of themselves differed from what I saw within them. I then decided to buy a large quantity of cloth so as to paint a different mask on each. In the meantime I began to look into the subject of masks, and bought many books where I found that what most interested me was symbolism and the different meanings that a certain color and shape had around the world, with occasional coincidences between East and West. Upon arriving at my studio one day, instead of taking small pieces of cloth in order to paint a mask on each, as was my plan, I took a large one and painted seven masks on it, aiming at a depiction of masks from all around the world. Shortly afterwards I made the sculpture that depicts an African woman and the lioness in Tutankhamon´s tomb. Later on came the time for the trip Ale and I had planned around Italy with our children. In Venice, while going through Carnival masks, I studied the technique under Maestro Francesco Sutto. Upon returning to Buenos Aires, I went straight into making masks in cartapesta which is easy to use because the material is lighter. After a period of creating pieces having color and shimmering sparks, I happened to notice that my work bore a noticeable Venetian influence mingled with my pre-Columbian roots. A fascination grew in me toward Shamans (tribal medicine men), who wear masks because of their religious and healing aspects. A symbolism was developing in me in the sense that “I´ve taken off my Mask”. At the same time I felt the need to arrange my studio solely to that end. Thus the invitation card with the steps of “I´ve taken off my Mask” was born, only as a photo sequence. Since I usually work on several different pieces at a time, while waiting for the masks to dry, I carried on recreating some which have been significant to Aztecs, Egyptians, Africans and Oriental peoples, and I blended in elements from Chinese and Jainist cultures, in an attempt at their being understood as a whole. Finally I produced a very special mask entitled “What Mask am I wearing today?”, consisting of a looking glass for me to look at myself and try every day to carry on showing myself as I really am, disclosing those hidden things that cause so much harm to one. I then realized that this passion for art discloses my own self and shows my innermost feelings, prompted by my wish to bring a different view to others, by working hard at the adventure of reaching the soul of other beings in order to meet them in the infinite immensity of art.