Topeng Spirits
The mask making traditions of Indonesia displayed on walls around the world are prized for their flamboyant visual appeal. Known as Topeng in their country of origin, they are used in ritualized dances of the same name to help the performer take on the spirit of the character they are portraying. The masks are seen as living manifestations of the spirits; their creation, a religious act. In defining this art form we look to The Anthropology of Art by Robert Layton and his two part cultural criteria for art. Using the aesthetic qualities and the substance that is being transmitted though the artwork. These criteria must be applied to the art form in an ethnographic manner in order to judge any type of art.
The Aesthetic criteria that a mask must meet is complex because if their perceived spiritual properties. The first criterion is symmetry, an aesthetic trait which is often used to judge visually appealing artwork around the world. Decoration is done in vivid colours, with natural dyes. Trim is then added as demanded by character being portrayed. The end visual result is highly stylized representation of a dancers character whether human or spirit.
An Old Women Mask.
Mask making is a specialized profession in Indonesia. The makers are called Undagi tapel, and come to be initiated in the art form by heredity. Only consecrated individuals carve the ritual masks in the traditional manner. It is this preset method of their creation that gives them their sacred properties. A religious mask is not deemed complete until it is ritually purified and the mask united with its dance costume on a sacred night to invite the spirit in. Viewed as the most dangerous part of a masks creation, it is vital to a masks cultural significance. When the mask is not being used in a ceremony, it is thought to protect the village in which it is stored.
Other, "lesser", mask makers produce lower quality maskers to be used as a market produce as they are culturally aware of the western interest in the masks purely visual appeal. These masks are not held to the same culturally demanded form and materials and are now treated as their own living art form, which is been evolving on its own such as the mask shown bellow. The highest peaks of mask art are reserved for those who value the cultural substance.
There is no doubt that the Indonesian mask making tradition is a stylized an art form as the surrealist movement in western painting. There is a culturally defined level of aesthetic appeal that the creation must meet and a deeply infused spiritual imagery from the beginning to the end of a masks life.
Sources:
Photo: Artest, Balinese dance Resources for Schools. ://www.balinesedance.org/Making_Balinese_Dance_Masks.htm#topengphotos
Photo: Compete mask with costume, Purnama Sari. http://www.purnamasaribali.com/aboutus.html
Photo: Old Women Mask, Balinese dance Resources for Schools: Topèng Pajegan. http://www.balinesedance.org/Topeng_Pajegan_Istri.htm#femmaskphotos
Photo: Contemperary mask, Balinese dance Resources for Schools: Topèng Pajegan. http://www.balinesedance.org/Resources-Topeng_Pajegan.htm
Layton, Robert. The Anthropology of Art.1991
Slattun, Judy. Balinese Masks: Spirits of an Ancient Drama. 2003
Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Topeng.
I found it really interesting when you were discussing the fact the masks have to be purified and such to attain cultural significance. I also totally agree with you last paragraph on how mask making is a stylized art form, similar to western styles. This was really interesting, thanks!
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed learning about this mask process! It would seem from what you ave written that the more involved masks and the "lesser" masks have the same level of aesthetics (by eye, not material) but what differs them is their level of substance. By comparison I see this same marketing ploy done by many cultures yet it is interesting that those cultures still keep the substance and communicative depth of their works [masks] as separate entities, avoiding any degenerating of their cultures traditional values.
ReplyDeleteAesthetically pleasing pictures as well!