Focus on the Antagonist Mask and Performance

The past two days have been particularly focused on designing and making the antagonist mask. I also had to document all of the character's frames as the actress wasn't available next week. Ideally, I would have liked to have spent more time on making different prototypes and then testing each. Instead, my experimentation was more evident in my illustrated designs in my sketchbook combined with my past tests I did for the main character bear mask. I was also inspired by villain masks I had found whilst researching masks in the early stages of my process. Practitioners such as Alex Kashishian and Richard Burnbridge were particularly inspiring for their contemporary mask making and photography. I was drawn to the cut out aspect of the masks as it revealed some facial features of the person wearing the mask. Considering the use of the mask, as a mode of disguise for the antagonist rather than suggestion of a half animal/half human creature, it was important to reveal the character as a human figure rather than animalistic.

In keeping with my reference to spiritual connections to the mask, I looked at Bali masks. This would good reference for colour as well form and shape of masks.

 This of course an example of a larval mask. I'm particularly drawn to the framing of the eyes on the mask. An element that has become a focus in my mask making experiments.

The following are my initial design ideas. You can see how the mask developed as started to consider cutting pattern into mask through the cutting out technique rather than collage as used in my bear masks.

 

As you can see some of the initial ideas have been added to the final mask. In explanation to the beak-like nose on the final mask, it was a result of tests to try and create a crooked and 'ugly' nose to disguise the identity of the characters. However, the shape of the base of the mask reminded me of the face of a bird. In the past, I have used the image of a black bird in my work to reference darkness and evil, as well as finding a lot of bird like spirit masks throughout my research. I think it works well however i'd like to get some feedback from my peers to see if this confuses the plot for them.