Forest Spirits...more mask love

This was a shoot done while I was working with People Tree.
The masks in the photographs are actually wall mounted lamps made of split bamboo and wire frames. Branches in metal wire and the leaves are made of fused fabric and paper. All fully handmade by various craftspeople. The frame concept was Rajiv Gautam's who is a master at structures. The rest was made in collaboration with various local artists.

The photographs have been taken by the Rupert Lorhaldar
http://in.linkedin.com/pub/rupert-lorhaldar/25/2b2/bb0
I am totally in love with is work and his energy.
He taught us how to make a camera flash light using a cardboard box, butter paper and a torch light!!!
So Fun!!!!
Beautiful multiple exposures and lighting create a warm mystical feel and make us look like magical creatures :)

Meher a dear friend and I modelled for this impromptu shoot...                  being part of the shoot for styling and posing was super fun too...

I had a translucent rust coloured fabric veil over my face and the mask over that.
Some how once I wore the mask my body began to move on its own..was a wonderful feeling ...very fluid
and through the mask and the veil,
what the world looks like is also really different.

I guess all masks have energies that they transfer to you...
I have seen peoples energies and body language change on wearing different masks... (I should read up more about this)

my love of masks
will never stop 

New masks emerge

Many changes still on...
I have never sketched masks like these before, also never made muscular male characters.
Liking this new style emerging.
It's been raining here and I guess the sudden burst of greenery and creature sounds..have gotten me happy.
Positive energies to all

your spirit is a strong one.
let it guide you

Chhau mask from India

This is my interpretation of Chhau masks. This a beautiful folk dance form from Eastern Part of India. (West Bengal, Orissa and Jharkhand). They tell stories of wars between Durga and other Gods. It is an intensely acrobatic, atlethic and dynamic dance form. Folk dances, masks and costumes have always fascinated me. I feel proud to come from a country of such rich heritage, stories and culture.

The mask is hand painted and everthing else is made of fabric.

The last two images are of me and my sister goofing around.

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Kathakali dancer Mask

My fascination for masks is never ending....here is my inperpretation of the Kathakali Face.
I usually like to make my own sample..then get it reproduced for production. I can spend hours and days just sewing and cutting away. The first image is he original and the others have been made by a beautiful and talented woman called Prema. Will put pics of her soon.
Its amazing how another person creates different characters out of the same sample reference...the expressions are just sooooo fun!

Masks turn to Fabric

These are handmade masks...just extending my love for masks onto fabric....

I made these for People Tree https://www.facebook.com/#!/peopletree

where I work currently...These are to be used a cushion covers....

There are a couple of more masks in process of translation..will post pics as soon as they are done.

Most of the time I like to hand make my first samples.

Masks are sooooo fun :)

Monster King and Monster Warrior

The first one was inspired by an evil king somehow and I have used silk baby pleats to create a texture.
The second one is a warrior at war...
I found these from way back in 2007...my love for Tibentan Buddhism will never end I guess.

Masks

Once again Tibetan Buddhist influences re-surface. People often wear masks everyday of their lives...a different one for different people and occassions. As for me I feel the lesser the masks or none..the better...
I have masks... but they are to do with my moods..the upper one being fierce or angry mask and the bottom one being..mischevious and happy...