Mexican folk masks

Mask making is a part of Mexican mexican folk masks life that pre-dates the arrival of the Spanish. Masks in Mexico are used in a wide variety of dances, mexican folk masks, ceremonies, festivals and theatre, but the most common uses are with traditional dances. In these dances, non-professional performers wear masks to transform themselves into other beings or characters. Most masks are scaled to fit the human face, with dancers looking out of slits just above the painted eyes.

For the pre-Hispanic Cultures, the masks served to conceal the soul, appearance, and personality, of the mask wearer and transformed the wearer into a mystical state in a way to communicate with the supernatural to influence the powerful forces in nature. However, masks shouldn't be view in isolation. For their role to be understood, they need to be studied in context. The dances which use masks must be studied and analyzed to understand the significance of the mask. Historic dances served as a function to tell future generations of important events that impacted the villages and keep the memory of those events alive. The Danza de los Tecuanes portrays the legend where a wild, man-eating beast stalks and kills a series of domestic animals with a whip. Villagers at the time had to protect themselves from the animals that would pass by their town and try to threaten to eat their food supply.

Mexican folk masks

Among the most vivid, dark, and uncannily beautiful styles of Mexican Art are the dance masks. Masks of this style developed when evangelizers in Mexico co-opted the ancient ritualistic use of masks to spread Christianity with allegorical plays and songs. Dances evolved from the dramas, most famously the Christians fighting the Moors, and became popular across Mexico. Beautiful authentic Moor mask from early 60s worn in the traditional dance of the Moors and Christians.. Carved from a hardwood with glass eyes. This windblower is said to scare away the evil spirits when hung above a doorway. Made in Guerrero by C. Close menu. Home Shop. Oaxacan Carvings.

Those masks which have actually been danced are marked as such. This person mexican folk masks almost always male who has learned the trade from his father, with the occasional exception of a widow continuing her husband's trade.

When one puts on a mask, he takes on the persona of the mask. Ceremonial masks have been used in dances in Mexico and Guatemala for thousands of years. Before the Spanish Conquest, masks depicted the animal spirits and gods of the indigenous peoples. The Spanish priests taught Roman Catholicism to the natives using medieval Mystery and Miracle Plays and introduced new masks for these performances. Such figures included the Spaniard and the Moor, and the Devil to represent Judas. Native dances evolved to incorporate both types of figures, and animal masks as well as those of European origin are still used in local festivals. Our dance masks are from Mexico and Guatemala.

Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads. Bill LeVasseur has collected hundreds of Mexican masks from remote villages that now hang on the walls of his museum in San Miguel de Allende. He's singlehandedly preserving a piece of Mexican culture that few realize is still thriving today. September 6, San Miguel de Allende, Mexico.

Mexican folk masks

Mexican mask-folk art refers to the making and use of masks for various traditional dances and ceremony in Mexico. Evidence of mask making in the region extends for thousands of years and was a well-established part of ritual life in the pre-Hispanic territories that are now Mexico well before the Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire occurred. In the early colonial period, evangelists took advantage of native customs of dance and mask to teach the Catholic faith although later, colonial authorities tried to ban both unsuccessfully. After Mexican Independence , mask and dance traditions showed a syncretism and mask traditions have continued to evolve into new forms, depicting Mexico's history and newer forms of popular culture such as lucha libre. Masks commonly depict Europeans Spanish, French, etc. The use of masks and costumes was an important part of Mesoamerican cultures for long before the arrival of the Spanish. Evidence of masks made with bone thousands of years old have been found at Tequixquiac , State of Mexico.

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Download as PDF Printable version. Most masks are painted first with a layer of white before colors are added. They disguised themselves as stones, trees, and animals. No matter how many times a villager tried to kill it, the animal survived. Masks have depicted the three races of Mexican history, indigenous, European and African. One of the most widespread of these is the Chinelos, danced in the State of Morelos. Wearing top hats and coats, they also make fun of wealthy landowners. Tee Shirts. For the pre-Hispanic Cultures, the masks served to conceal the soul, appearance, and personality, of the mask wearer and transformed the wearer into a mystical state in a way to communicate with the supernatural to influence the powerful forces in nature. These masks may be supported by wood frames. The use of masks and costumes was an important part of Mesoamerican cultures for long before the arrival of the Spanish. Facial features may be cut into or painted on the mask. Goliath , but the most common alternative relates to the Conquest of Mexico called Dance of the Marquis, Tastoanes or Comanches.

The collection contains three boxes of manuscript and galley proofs, 88 photographic prints, and slides. Donald Cordry's publication, Mexican Masks, published by the University of Texas Press in , was based upon the collection.

Today the noses are made of wood and images of bikini-clad women are painted on. Contents move to sidebar hide. Some masks combine elements from different categories. He agreed to take on the task for a lot of money. These masks may be supported by wood frames. The harvesting of this wood often falls under certain customs related to when and how the trees may be cut. Try this colorful 2D art activity from our Mask Exhibit. In these dances, non-professional performers wear masks to transform themselves into other beings or characters. Masks have depicted the three races of Mexican history, indigenous, European and African. Tezcatlipoca was a night god whose colors were black and red. It is often used for artistic objects, never for utilitarian items. This role of an old man as a clown dates back to before the Conquest. In the early colonial period, evangelists took advantage of native customs of dance and mask to teach the Catholic faith although later, colonial authorities tried to ban both unsuccessfully. Rojas, state of Guerrero.