The history of masks
Masks have been used throughout history for thousands of years. The oldest found mask was from 7000 BC, although the art of mask making may be older.
Masks are still used around the world, across many different cultures, for a variety of purposes: protection, disguise, entertainment, and ritual practices.
In Africa, ritual masks made of wood are used in many different ways, including to communicate with ancestral spirits. Many African masks are made in the shape of human faces or animals, as some African tribes believe in communication with animal spirits.
Inuit tribes of Northern America use masks for various purposes, including shamanic rituals for unity and exorcising evil spirits from the sick. These masks are made with great skill and include wood, leather, bones, and feathers.
Oceanic mask use revolves around ancestral worship. Some masks are up to six meters high, offering protection from evil spirits.
Ancient Aztecs used masks to cover the faces of the dead. Initially, these masks were made of leather, but eventually were crafted from copper and gold.
Beyond ritualistic purposes, masks have many uses in our culture today. Welding masks protect the eyes and the face from flying sparks, gas masks protect from dangerous gases, shield masks protect on helmets, and medical masks protect from illness. Masks are also used in theatre, entertainment, ceremony, and for costume purposes.
As masks conceal and transform the human face, they become a fascinating tool when used in therapy to reflect, understand, and explore.
The use of masks in therapy
Masks are a form of communication through the face. As you create a mask, you are creating a wearable image of your persona. This offers a great opportunity for exploration of that persona, both internally and externally.
Your persona refers to the practical, successful personality we display to the world — the one we use most often in the workplace or in social relationships. Our persona is developed from childhood and beyond as we gain approval for behaving in certain ways.
Carl Gustav Jung wrote about the concept of persona, discussing the many ways it manifests itself. He proposed a dark side to the personality, commonly referred to as the shadow. This shadow contains the repressed, instinctual feelings that we have repressed — not necessarily just bad behaviour, but also untapped creativity and imagination that is left behind because of socially responsible behaviour.
We may disguise and repress features and traits that are not approved by others. We may play a part to some groups or individuals, and play a different part to another. We may repress positive aspects, such as self-confidence, if we find they are not appreciated or affirmed by others.
As you create your mask, you will undergo an exploration of your persona, whether that is what lies on the surface or what is buried below. Masks can bring to consciousness how we see ourselves, or how we would like to be, and allow us to better understand what makes up our inner self.
As masks have both an outside and inside to be decorated, they offer an opportunity to portray how others see you on the outside, compared to how you really feel on the inside.
Mask making invites you to explore the persona you reveal or conceal from the world. Art therapists use mask making in art therapy sessions to facilitate an imagination-driven exploration of the self through role-play, reenactment, and storytelling.
How to start
Allow the process of mask making to be guided by your emotions, feelings, reflection, and inner wisdom. Do not be intimidated by the process; begin with the simple steps below.
- Collect scraps and mementos throughout your day.
- Set up an art space. Clear a designated workspace to spread your materials as you sort through them.
- Choose your materials. Sort through your supplies and select objects, images, shapes, and colours that you like.
- Pre-arrange elements on the mask. Experiment with the pattern by adjusting placements, adding or subtracting elements, rearranging, cutting, and tearing.
- Paint a base colour on the mask. Let it dry before painting any additional details to avoid unnecessary smudging or damage.
- Apply adhesive.
- Tack down elements.
- Allow to dry.
- Add embellishments or found objects.
Supplies
Though the art of mask making allows for the use of all kinds of materials, the list below contains some commonly used supplies:
- Masks
- Coloured card
- Tissue paper
- Cotton twine
- Ribbon
- Feathers
- Leaves
- Fabric
- Felt
- Beads
- Chain
- Soft wire
- Coloured pencils
- Fineliners
- Scissors
- Glue
- Acrylic paint
- Paintbrushes
- Palette
Taking it a step further: Mask making for strength and empowerment
Art therapy naturally induces a creative flow, while highlighting our strengths and promoting feelings of accomplishment. It offers the opportunity to examine our lives in new ways that can shift perception, and it encourages a fresh and empowering insight about ourselves. Art therapy employs the power of creativity to reduce stress and increase wellbeing.
When we use mask making in art therapy, we can gain certain insight: Are we hiding or protecting some aspects of ourselves? Does our mask reflect what we show the world and obscure our true selves? Have we uncovered or discovered parts of ourselves?
To enhance the level of empowerment you feel from the art of mask making, consider crafting your mask based on the following themes:
- Celebrate a strength that you want to acknowledge and cultivate in yourself
- Reflect on strengths that have gotten you through challenges or tough times
- Identify and explore your core values and how they relate to your strengths
- Recognise the things that have gone well, and evaluate the aspects about you that made it happen
Inspiration for when you are feeling uncreative
Not sure where to start? Consider the following thought-starters to spark mask making inspiration:
- The aspects of your identity you show to others
- The aspects of yourself that you keep private or hidden from others
- Your spirit animal
- A character or person from a recent dream
- Favourite book, television, or movie character
- Mythical or fictitious creature
- Your favorite superhero or a special power you would love to have
- The season your life is in
- Your physical health
- A person you go to for advice
Online art therapy with LAUREARTS
At LAUREARTS, our aim is to uncover the unconscious reasons and sources of fear which stop individuals like yourself from achieving their full potential as an artist, creator, or performer.
Our art therapists leverage art therapy techniques which encourage a powerful transformative inner journey to take place in a supportive, non-judgemental environment.
Art therapy is suitable when you are experiencing:
Creative Blocks
- Feelings of being stuck, unmotivated, or even creatively burnout
- Struggling to uncover and maintain artistic meaning, identity, and fulfilment
- Difficulty beginning or completing an artistic endeavour
Emotional Hurdles
- Negative thoughts about yourself, others, or the world which impact on your mood
- Continuous self-doubt and low self-esteem
- Ambivalence, moments of indecision, of hesitation, and/or internal conflict
Psychological Barriers
- Anxiety, depression, trauma
- Interpersonal and relationship difficulties
Everyday Obstacles
- Managing your time and money
- Balancing creative work with marketing, networking, and promoting yourself
- Valuing your work
Art therapy with LAUREARTS brings vitality and enhanced creativity into your life, reinvigorating the playful, spontaneous, and imaginative spark allowing you to see options and possibilities.
To learn more about online art therapy for creatives, or book a consultation, click here. For more tips from LAUREARTS, follow us on Instagram or Facebook.