Laura Pennell

Mask performance is used by many different cultures around the world. Masks are used in various ways to tell stories, to take away identity in political demonstrations and in shamanism. Masks can make characters gender neutral and connect them to nature. Masks are not necessarily human like they can be animalistic to characterise the performer. For mask week I had chosen the design brief ‘Fearful Prisoner’, these words would shape my design into a specific character. We learnt the process of moulding clay into a design, covering it with a protective layer of tin foil or Vaseline, and then applying layers of paper and jay cloth on top to create a thick and strong mask. After taking the mask off the head mould and removing the clay we were able to cut the eye holes, nostrils and external edge before subtly painting them to bring them to life.