W H Y M A S K S
Masks have been used in rituals since centuries in human history in almost every culture in the world. They are tools. Tools to overcome boundaries, to expand awareness, to set transformative processes in motion and to connect with the divine. They are the embodiment of spirits, stories, and ideas. Today they are mostly used in theater, art, and carnival celebrations. But masks are powerful objects, closely connected to the human soul, our emotions, the forces of nature, and living beings on our planet. They have the power to magically make the hidden visible and conceal the obvious. The power of masks is the power of self-deception, of illusion, of illumination, of illimitation.
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work Sourrounding
DEsign and Decoration
"Techno": Making of and Prototype. ©cutterfly, Venice 2025
My fried Elena (DJ & Performance artist) tried on "Sleeptalker": Work in Progress. @cutterfly, Venice 2025
MASK MAKERS JOURNEY
My fascination for masks began during theater-projects, where used them as part of the costumes. That's how I discovered their therapeutic effects and their power to shift perception. Since then, I have wanted to delve deeper into my research on masks, their use, and production.
Therefore I started an international scholarship in summer 2024, in the region of Venice, Italy. Venice, one of the most magical cities in the world, made by artisans, is the historical cradle of the maskmaking cult in Europe. Masks have been used there since the 12th century for different purposes: one were traveling theater groups, the so called „commedia dell’ arte“, and the other was the 6-months-long carnival.
Whereas the carnival transformed nowadays rather into a capitalistic act of an narcistic society, watching itself, it was back then an event for performing artists and a politically significant phenomenon to overcome social boundaries. Costumes and masks could be worn by everyone, the poor beggar and the rich aristocrat. It was a positive phenomenon of universal disguise: to release tensions within society and to unite in equality, joy, celebration, and freedom. So to say: Become nobody, be free, no more roles, no more identities, let go of everything. Everyone is unlimited. Be what you want. Choose your role. Play your game. Meet each person new, including yourself.
The unique art of traditional handcrafted mask making is still kept alive there by a few „mascareri“ – traditional mask makers, practicing their craft from design to execution. One of them is the famous „Sartori“ Family in Abano Terme, known worldwide for their leather masks for „Commedia dell’ arte“… and the other one is the Venetian artisan Gualtiero Dall’Osto, celebrated for his carnival masks. Both of them gave me the chance to learn different techniques for mask making at their workshop. Thanks to the European Erasmus+ funding, the Sartori and the Dall’ Osto family for having given me this possibility. It was a great honor for me to have this experience.
More information about the Mask Makers where I learned:
“Centro Maschere e Strutture Gestuali” by the Sartori Family: http://www.sartorimaskmuseum.it/
“Tragicomica” by Gualtiero Dall’Osto: https://tragicomica.it/
Carnival Masks
Each mask - no matter if for the purpose of theater or carnival – undertakes a unique handcrafting process. It takes several weeks to complete a model, and all kinds of different materials such as clay, plaster, wood, leather, glue, paper, colors, gold leaf, peals, feathers, fabrics, wires, etc., are used during the process. Infinite shapes and decorating possibilities make each model a unique piece of art, that comes to life when worn.
Impressions of venice
