To create a mask of a body part using the theme of duality
Once upon a time, there lived a violinist and a pianist. These two musicians were twin
brothers that were perceived as the perfect brothers. But in reality, they hated each other. They fought every day and tried to outdo one another. It was the ultimate battle of the strings, between loud and soft, high and low. One day, the violinist killed the pianist. After the pianist’s death, the violinist became dead inside like he lost a part of himself. But the pianist’s peaceful spirit lives on.
brothers that were perceived as the perfect brothers. But in reality, they hated each other. They fought every day and tried to outdo one another. It was the ultimate battle of the strings, between loud and soft, high and low. One day, the violinist killed the pianist. After the pianist’s death, the violinist became dead inside like he lost a part of himself. But the pianist’s peaceful spirit lives on.
The pianist represents death. My mask is boxy and this represents the rigidity that comes with death. When you put on the mask it is difficult to move (rigidity), but when it’s off you can move it easily. On the pianist, this mask is death that’s taking over him. My mask goes from life (fingers) to death and decomposition (arm and shoulders). You can see the rigid outside but when you look inside you can see the mechanics of the piano keys and the cardboard veins in the bicep. The structure of the mask is reinforced with cardboard and the viewer is meant to see the cardboard, which represents the color of dead flesh (light brown) and the interior of the body. The fingers are flexible and move with ease to show life, but as you go up the arm, it becomes harder to move to show death/ rigor mortis taking over the arm. The shoulder cuff can spread open to reveal flowers that show decomposition bringing about new life. When you press the piano keys, you can create music just like the pianist.
Claire’s mask is of life. Hers consists of string and you can see a lot of her body through it. Her movements are very free and flexible showing life. She can puck the string to create music like the violinist. Her strings also represent the veins in your arm that carry your blood. Our masks are connected despite looking so different. We are using the same body parts and we are connected in that we are opposite of each other. Violin and piano are both string instruments, but the piano may not look like one. She represents life and its flexibility and softness, while I represent death and its rigidity.
