The Transformed Self: Performance Masks of Mexico
Ongoing
Mint Museum Randolph
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Dance of the Twelve Peers of France
from Continela, Hidalgo
Grice Collection
PG2004.105.167
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La Muerte (Death)
from Tocuaro, Michoacán
Grice Collection
PG2004.105.66
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The exhibition showcases thirty-four 20th century Mexican performance masks from the Nelson and Gretchen Grice Collection, gifted to The Mint Museum over the last several years. The masks are not ornamental, but are meant to be used in public performances. Integral to modern life in Mexico, performances of epic tales, historical events and religious narratives take place in city streets and church plazas and embody the essential beliefs, both social and spiritual, upon which the fundamentals of community are built. The dance dramas reenact sacred and profane history and act out common human problems while imparting moral lessons. The performance mask physically and psychologically converts the wearer into the historical person, spiritual being or non-human entity of the performance.
- Adapted from "The Transformed Self: Performance Masks of Mexico," Passionate Journey: the Grice Collection of Native American Art by Dr. Dorie Reents-Budet, Consulting Curator of Ancient American Art.
Particularly rich in pageant tradions and variety of performance masks are the states of Veracruz, Puebla, Tlaxcala, Sonora, Sinaloa, Michoacán, Hidalgo and Guerrero |
Types of Masks in The Transformed Self Exhibit
- Cristianos y Moros (Christians and Moors) The dance of the Christians and the Moors originally served to teach the superiority of the Catholic faith over the "pagan" rites which the Spanish feared.
- El Diablo (The Devil) Performances with devil figures are featured throughout Mexico in several stories such as the Dance of the Seven Vices, at Mexican Independence Day and especially the in Christmas pageants which are unique to Mexico.
- La Muerte (Death) The European concept of Hell had little meaning for the indigenous people of Mexico. These are sacred beings of the Underworld which is not a dreaded place of eternal punishment, but simply the abode of the dead.
- Negritos (Black Men) Characters wearing black-faced masks appear in many dances and play a variety of roles from teaching proper behavior to providing comic relief. Given the diversity of black-faced characters, it can be difficult to identify the function and meaning of a mask without knowing where it was made and for what performance it was created.
- El Tigre (The Jaguar) The jaguar is the most frequently depicted animal in traditional dances in Mexico and Guatemala and is seen as a foe to human society. It is the main character in dramas about the struggle between civilized life and untamed nature.
17 minute video about the history of masks in Mexico.
Mask Making
Usually, the mask maker of a town is a specific professional man whose artistic skill is well developed over time. The mask maker has come to understand the symbolism of each mask and how to incorporate each symbol into the design of each mask. To do so, he must be extremely familiar with the stories, legends and history of the area. Mask makers often create masks that aren't used for performances in their town, but perhaps performances in another town. Finally, mask makers sometimes make masks that aren't used for performances at all, but are used to sell to tourists. These masks are often flashier than their ceremonial mask companions.
To learn more about the transformative power of Mexican masks, click here.
For teachers who attended the workshop about Mexican masks, click here.
Additional Resources
Print resources available in The Mint Museum Library
Search MARCO: The Mint Art Research Catalog Online to find more print resources available in The Mint Museum Library
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Created by Erin Mullen, intern for The Mint Museum Library.