| Original Tribal masks are often seen by unknowing | | | | masking traditions, now displayed as folk lore, |
| eyes as art objects in themselves. That is not the | | | | ineresting parallels are revealed. Whilst in Belgium I |
| case, unless of course they are modern copies. A | | | | witnessed a processions depicting witches and and |
| tribal mask has embued power and is alive during | | | | modern giants. Other masquerades also have links |
| the ceremony for which it is used. An African | | | | to witchcraft and by implication to shaman. One |
| visitor to a London museum stated, "This mask is | | | | powerful link is the seasonal nature of many |
| dead." He was seeing the mask out of context, it | | | | traditions. The Green man and the Hobby horse |
| had lost its power for the people who created it | | | | being two examples. |
| and the the magic had died. | | | | Forgive me. I could continue to wax lyrical about |
| To the collectors eyes the very appearance of | | | | the links in our current traditions seen as folk lore |
| the mask and the story behind it leads to the | | | | to those of our ancient ancestors. To me there is |
| magic. The mysterious art forms drawing on the | | | | a tremnedous link which is bound up with the |
| imagination and a need to interpret. As a piece of | | | | very nature of the people we are and how we |
| art it has the power to involve the observer in | | | | have developed. Our formative roots live in our |
| fathoming meaning to reach an understanding. | | | | societies now. That is why I find masks so |
| This can move the viewer into a different frame | | | | powerfully evocative. Along with other forms of |
| of reference. Touching a life style that is at once | | | | primitive and traditional art we can trace our own |
| strange and distance, yet it has the feel of | | | | links to earlier times. Even today the shaman / |
| something closer to home. A paradox that seems | | | | magician exists following ancient magik rules. |
| to arise in studying older tribal ways. In a collection | | | | Even modern latex masks contain some of the |
| this is magic. | | | | same magic, because they are linked back to the |
| It is also important to appreciate that nearly all | | | | same collective unconcious and traditions of |
| masks are part of a full costume. Often the | | | | masquerade, disguise and the spirit world. As a |
| costume is made from less durable materials and | | | | school teacher I have come across some quite |
| does not survive. Indeed some masks are also | | | | vociferous reactions by parents to having |
| made of less durable materials, such as the | | | | Halloween in school. Some see its pagan links and |
| basketery Yam mask, created by the Abelam in | | | | reject it. The seam runs deep into the modern |
| Papua New Guinea. And again some masks are | | | | psyche. Perhaps the most potent place to view |
| destroyed as part of the ceremony for which | | | | this link is in the Mexican Day of the Dead |
| they are used. | | | | Celebrations. This festival combines a mix of |
| The commonality in masking traditions | | | | Christian and Pagan practices. In particular |
| Delving back into the earliest recordings, | | | | Halloween has a juxtaposition between the dead |
| historically, a visit to the caves of Trois Feres in | | | | and children. Here children are masked to scare |
| France is enlightening. Picture this painted Paleolithic | | | | away the evil spirits and look after the dead. By |
| scene. | | | | this means a link with the ancestors and children is |
| A central figure stands wearing the head and | | | | perpetuated. |
| antlers of a deer. He stands, shaman like, | | | | Another fascinating link between the masks of |
| surround by animals. Animals that are important | | | | many cultures is the fool. The fool has many |
| to the culture he represents. Some of the animals | | | | characteristics, the most noticeable of which is |
| no longer exist in this area. Ibex, reindeer, bison, | | | | paradox. The fool can be wise and foolish; |
| stag and horses. The shaman, for that is what he | | | | handsome and ugly; playful and barbaric. He |
| seems to be, stands, a human figure amongst the | | | | straddles the line between the extremes of the |
| potential food. What magic he is creating or | | | | other masks switching from one role to the other. |
| ancestors he is communicating with we do not | | | | Perhaps the fool simply represents the many |
| know. Yet from our knowledge of tribal people | | | | dualities and paradoxes in life. |
| studied in times closer to ours it is possible to | | | | Also the fool plays a full part in the staging of the |
| understand the links. The need to hunt for food is | | | | ritual. Noohlmahl in the Kwakwaka'wakw rituals is a |
| essential to survival. The gods link all matters, | | | | grotesque creature covered in hair with snot |
| stay in good standing with the gods and food will | | | | pouring from his nose. He struts about |
| be available. Take only what can be used fairly | | | | entertaining the crowd, making jokes and |
| and do not violate the natural laws. Life goes on, | | | | anticipating reponses. Should the reponses |
| following the seasons. There is a balance to life | | | | become too familiar a violent response could be |
| and death. The link between them is maintained | | | | expected. Of course the responses to the |
| by the magician, shaman, wizard, witch doctor, | | | | watchers comments could be of another more |
| whatever you wish to call him. | | | | humourous nature. Surprise and paradox are |
| During my studies of masks this relationship | | | | essential to the nature of all fools. Another of his |
| between the magical and the shaman constantly | | | | jobs is to control the children. He treads the line |
| arises. There is a commonality between the | | | | between clowning for them and ensuring that |
| ancient cultures of the Pacific West Coast of | | | | they do not disrupt proceedings. As with the |
| North America ( now Canada and Alaska ) and | | | | inappropriate comments from adults a violent |
| the tribal traditions of Africa. Fertility, the hunted | | | | response can be provoked should the children, |
| animal, ancestors, initiation, circumcision, | | | | literally, over step the line. |
| cannibalism real and symbolic, healing and crossing | | | | To return to my original point masks are a way |
| over into the spirit world for guidance and healing | | | | into the very nature of our being. The mythology |
| powers or to appease the gods or ancestors. All | | | | of the Palaeolithic times is linked directly to tribal |
| these occur in different traditions spread around | | | | mask and western folk lore masks. For me this is |
| the world. | | | | why the mask holds such power and magic. The |
| As you allow yourself to delve into the traditions | | | | mask allows us to physically touch and share our |
| surrounding masks in Europe something interesting | | | | past in a way which few objects can do. Tribal |
| arises. Here the traditions have been sanitised by | | | | Masks carry a universal signature that appeals to |
| the surrounding culture and the church. Yet when | | | | our nature. |
| you delve back and attempt to understand the | | | | |