Research
Getting to Know Our Partner
Exploring Different Types of Masks
Just to start thinking about concept of masks, I started sketching out different types of masks that I know about and their structure.
Coming Up with a Narrative
On this sheet, I wrote out the key points of our narrative and how my ant mask related to it. I also ended up using it as notes for our presentation.
Squid Game Masks
After doing the exercise, my partner and I were bouncing ideas off of each other and landed on the masks from Squid Game, a popular show on Netflix. We specifically decided to take inspiration from the VIP good lion mask and the black ant masks of the workers in the game.
Lion Mask Inspiration
Ant Mask Inspiration
I referenced this image when trying to including more aspects of an ant into the mask since the Squid Games mask was more abstract compared to the idea I was trying to convey.
Exercise
During this exercise, I focused more on using body augmentation with the masks. I thought of making a mask that involved the entire head and had the person’s hair become the straps of the masks that we were wearing. I tried conveying the idea that the masks became part of the person’s face by including their hair or facial hair. My other idea was more geometric and less about body augmentation.
Iterations
Sketching Out Ideas
Once we decided that we were going to use the Squid Games masks as our inspiration, I started sketching out the different masks from the show and trying to see how we could change them to better fit the narrative that we came up with. This was also when we decided that our masks were going to look completely different from each other to emphasize the two sides of our narrative instead of looking similar.
Lion Mask Template
My partner and I first started on attempting to make a template for the lion mask. We used a picture of a geometric lion mask and drew out different parts of it, trying to replicate it. After trying different methods, we got a good amount of the lion’s face solved but figured out that drawing from a 2-D photo was never going to make a 3-D model.
Concept Statement
For this project, we must collaboratively make two three-dimensional masks that relate to a pandemic. We will be creating a lion mask and an ant mask, referencing Squid Games. In this narrative, humanity lives in a post-apocalyptic world where radiation and pollution has infected everything. The air is poisonous, and the radiation causes horrific changes in skin composition and deteriorating bone structure. Precautions have been made by mandating a full mask requirement. This requirement protects the contaminated skin and hides what damage has already been done. People who have survived have already suffered irreversible changes to their face and neck and this damage is hid by the masks. Each mask is different, representing your social status and occupation. The mask inspiration came from their hierarchy of species, the wealthy represented as strong carnivores and the working class represented as insignificant ants. The ant masks are mass produced because of how many people are trapped in poverty and some are even homemade, which is why the material is weak and cracking. The lion mask is glorious to look at, proving the immense amount of wealth and power. The gold flakes and gemstones strengthen this idea. We will primarily be using cardstock, paper, glue, paint, and scissors to construct the masks. The design principles in these masks are emphasis, proportion, and pattern. Emphasis is present, because the gold lion mask is loud and overshadows the dreary ant mask. The proportions of the two masks are similar and the structured pattern of the lion mask represents the sleekness of the wealthy, which is lacking in the ant mask and the wrinkles on it. Color, form, texture and shape are the main elements of design. The difference in color, shape, and texture all point to the major differences of the masks and those wearing them.
Production
Creating the Ant Mask
Paper Mache
To create the curved and rounded ant mask, my partner and I decided on doing paper mache. We marked on a balloon how big the mask should be and used scraps plus a mixture of glue and water to cover the balloon.
When the final construction of our masks started, the initial plan was to simultaneously work on both masks together. However, due to timing and attendance, we ended up having to split the work and did each mask individually. So from this point on, I mainly worked on the ant mask and my partner took over making the lion mask.
After letting everything dry, I removed it from the balloon it was on and trimmed the sides so the mask was more smooth along the sides.
Adding Color and Eyeholes
I proceeded to paint the mask black on both the front and back since the mask would be viewed at all angles. I also marked where to cut out the eyeholes on the inside of mask.
Antennas
To make the antennas of the ant, I simply used a long wire then bent it to form each side and left a strip in the middle to attach the wire to the top of the mask. I used hot glue to secure it, but covered it with tape and paint to make it look more handmade.
Roughing it Up
Since our narrative had a large emphasis on how this ant mask was handmade and dirty since it was too expensive for those wearing it to replace it, I started adding cracks to further push the narrative that the mask was old and needed to be replaced. Also, I added the tape and bandaids to show that the people wearing it were trying to salvage what they could out of the mask.
After adding all of the tape and bandaids, I thought I was done but I wasn’t satisfied with eh result at all. I took some time to think about it and concluded that the mask didn’t really match the narrative and looked like I didn’t put much effort into it. I wanted it to look more roughed up and dirty, so I proceeded to do just that.
Roughing it Up Even More
To add the look of dirt, I used many mixtures of multiple paints to create different shades of brown. I started out by stippling the paint on with a brush. However, the pain looked too much like it was painted on and I wasn’t satisfied since that was not what I was going for, so I tried out a different method.
Instead of stippling the paint, I turned to splattering it onto the mask. I was much happier with the result that came for the splattering. I focused most of the splattering on the cracks that I made and around the border of the mask since that is where the person wearing it would be touching it the most to put on the mask.
Adding the Elastic
The final step was adding in the elastic band to help secure the mask onto one’s head. To further push the idea that the mask was handmade, we used the elastic from the face masks that we all wore during this pandemic since they are easily accessible. We ended up braiding it to make it more sturdy and I painted it brown so it didn’t look so clean compared to everything else. I made sure to paint it quite dark since the elastic is a part of the mask that gets held the most.
Final Product
Details
Link to Portfolio Piece: Mask Up