While we enjoy masks as rich, colorful works of art, we gain a deeper understanding by considering how masks are used in a particular culture and the meanings that the tradition-bearers bring to them.
For thousands of years, people in what is now Mexico have used masks in religious rituals and festivals that celebrate shared community history and values.
This exhibition explores mask use and adaptations in Mexico, from ancient Mesoamerica to modern Luchadores, and how, while concealing his face, a mask can in fact reveal the wearer's relationship with the world around him.
Topics addressed:
- Cultural influence and adaptation
- Pre-Columbian civilizations of Mexico
- Self-expression and shared community history and values
- Masks as an art form