MASKS
Some photos from the "Masks" exhibition
Curated by Ebru Beyza
Artists: Altay Kervan, Batuhan Yaldızkum, Burak Çizer, Burhan Kum, Damla Çetinkaya, Emel Ünlü, ENKİ, Feramuz Piroğlu, Ozan Dursun, Polat Can Polat
Since its birth in primitive cultures, masks have been used in many ways such as in disguise, taking on a different personality, and being protected. Produced with various materials according to the characteristics of the geography in which they are located, these masks have given a mystical meaning to the wearer in weddings, hunting, death, and religious ceremonies. Over time, masks evolved into being used by people to portray different identities. In a theater play, a ballet performance, or a carnival, people were given different identities through these masks. There were times when they were banned and there were times when they were needed to be used in epidemics.
When we look at the history of art, the purpose of hiding has been replaced by the purpose of communication. Masks, which gradually lost their mystical meaning with industrialization, became a means of expression and icon in the works of many important artists. Modern humans have learned to assume another identity in their relationships, even though they have stopped wearing a mask as an object. This is also relevant for psychology too. Artists of the period used these masks in their works, sometimes criticizing the “mask of modern man” with a symbolic narrative, and sometimes they were completely influenced by their visual/cultural richness.
Looking at today, the medical masks we use have become a part of our daily lives. Inthe past, we used primitive masks because we believed that they protected us from evil spirits we cannot see, and today we wear medical masks because we believe that they protect us from viruses and bacteria.
Nobu Projects is hosting ten different artists in the "Masks" exhibition. Artists invite theviewer to question the meaning of masks and their mystical past in contemporary art.
Ebru Beyza
