Sylvia Ferino Pagden - Wir sind MASKEN. - 2009

The mask, 'artificial face,' is among humanity's oldest artistic creations. Over time, it has served as a tool and medium in the creation of life and/or culture within many civilizations: in the worship of the dead, memory, and ancestors; in rites of passage and rebirth; as a fundamental form of expression in mysteries and theater; as an element of court spectacles; and ultimately, as a form of protection, camouflage, and much more. The novelty of this presentation—beyond its chronological scope and cultural framework—lies in its attempt to classify masks according to their function. Masks produced by European and non-European cultures, previously separated both conceptually and in museum displays, are now linked.