Moving Masks

These masks move between physical locations and time demarcations, but perhaps their most active motion is that which they induce. Whether by an event or ceremonial role, masks help promote the movement of surrounding bodies.

Masks, like the one featured on this site, are used in a variety of settings, from dance festivals to somber funerals. The performance of the mask varies depending on the setting. (Roy “The Art of Burkina Faso” 14) But across events: where masks are, people will gather. The video on this page demonstrates this social occurrence. As the masks perform, people are joining the audience. All around the large dance area’s perimeter, there are clusters of viewers, who are becoming participants in the performance. The audience, in this case, is primarily static, creating a stable frame which focuses on the body movement within.