Kathakali (dance) mask meticulously hand built with clay. Finished with acrylics, beads and rhinestones. One-of-a-kind artwork.
Size is 18” x 12.5” x 3”
This Kathakali mask is the latest in my series inspired by Indian dance masks where where performers transcend their human identities to embody divine and mythological beings. In Kathakali, the dancer’s elaborate makeup, ornate headgear, and expressive gestures transform them into living deities and warriors, blurring the lines between reality and mythology.
In this piece, Arjuna's worried expression captures the essence of his dilemma, as he grapples with the moral implications of war, just before the pivotal moment when Lord Krishna imparts the wisdom of the Bhagavad Gita. This mask is both a tribute to India's ancient performance arts and a meditation on the timeless human struggle between fear, duty, morality and enlightenment.
Read more about Kathakali here - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kathakali