​​​​Adeo Alday

 

"Masks" begs the question why in life we wear different masks?

 

The art piece's material was inspired from a visit to the Palawan island of the Philippines abundant with pearls, and its image from elements of icons to create this modern face.  The composition represents the symbiotic relationship between who we think/feel we are and who we want to be perceived, thus "Masks".

 

Beyond the famous faces, a dialogue is encouraged as to why, when, and where we wear masks. Consciously or unconsciously, do we meticulously design and self-assign these complex masks to conceal or project different personalities physically or verbally that  perhaps we aspire to be?  In the process, reality versus imaginary becomes a battle, albeit the art piece.  Which is real and which is a mask? Can you tell?

 

What’s evident though is that the behavior behind the 

aspiration might be part of the human dance of survival, resilience, as well as our pursuit of perfection. 

After all, we evolve, we adapt, and we transform ourselves 

in a demanding society we create. 

Is it an undertaking that is more profound beyond everyday 

political correctness?  Do our masks, perhaps empower us to create who we are and/or who we are not? Reality vs imaginary? Be the judge.

 

Below the art piece is a hill of 1,000 empty boxes that once housed the 100,000 map tacks and represents remnants of the 1,000 hours laboriously woven into creation of the art piece. The hill is the mountain of 

effort and dedication that we devote in creating our own  masks.