Mask-Up

Visuals

This is a quick sketch I made of my mask prior to creating it.
This is the front view of my mask.
This is the back of my mask.

Project Statement

This project collaboratively explored the idea of narrative and mask-making through the construction of a post-pandemic masking form. For our masks, my partner and I chose to create high fashion-inspired masks. Since the beginning of the pandemic, masks have become an essential accessory. While they serve the very important purpose of protecting us, they’re often very plain, colorless, and don’t add any visual interest to an outfit. Thus, we wanted to switch this narrative and create masks that value fashion over function and would be an accessory an individual wears to accentuate the rest of what they’re wearing. For my mask specifically, I created a bright red eyepiece with layered chain details that frame the face. Considering that the outer appearance represents the illustrious high fashion aesthetic, I wanted the inner materials to be the same. To do this, I constructed my mask with colored paper taken directly from a fashion magazine. The eyepiece was made from several layers of red fashion magazine paper while the beads attached to the chain were made from various colors of paper that had been rolled up. To present our concept, we staged a “fashion show” and acted as if we were high fashion models by strutting around the classroom.

Process

View detailed project process at Mask Up: Process

Reflection

Overall, I loved so many aspects of this project. The collaborative nature behind it was something I enjoyed right off the bat. My partner and I worked simultaneously the entire time and this really helped with communication, resolving material issues, and making sure our masks were cohesive with one another. Beyond this, our concept really excited me as well. High fashion style is something I’ve always had an interest in so researching it and figuring out how to apply its aesthetic to paper mache masks was fun. I will say, however, that the creation of the actual masks was a little bit of a struggle. I’ve never worked with paper mache before so figuring out how to do so was very experimental. If I could do this project again, I would use the same materials but expand the scale and amount of layers within my mask because I feel that’s where my current one lacked.