I TOO WEAR A MASK

Vinyago (masks) are a long tradition in many African countries, way before the first century BC. Across all the continent’s tribes (with exception of few like the Maasai), masks have been used for rituals, entertainment, fertility, agriculture, funerals, initiation into adulthood etc.

With most of the masks being held in foreign museums along with other artifacts and the changes in tradition, masks now serve a decorative purpose, an exotic thing to be seen in contrast to the whole purpose of African art, which is being used.

This series of works borrows from masks of different tribes on the continent. Since the style I use primarily borrows from cubism, I thought I would draw what initially inspired the style.

‘I TOO WEAR A MASK’ is a series of oil pastels paintings on paper I started in mid-2023 with hopes to create at least 20 pieces with portraiture of seemingly different people wearing masks from different parts of Africa. It addresses the amount of hiding we as human beings have perfected. When our forefathers used masks for ceremonies, we use masks to hide and repress what we are feeling/ going through/ our identity. The last piece “when life gives you lemons” shows openness, vulnerability and acceptance of who we are.