J'ote mon masque 2021

Editor: This self-portrait, “J'ote mon masque,” created in 2021 by Cricorps using acrylics, strikes me as incredibly raw and revealing. The artist is literally removing a mask… what secrets do you think the artist tries to expose? Curator: The symbolic act of removing the mask is a potent one, steeped in layers of psychological and cultural significance. Masks hide, but they also reveal. Observe how behind the "mask" there's a staircase in the background where a key is hung, as though entering one's inner self? Do you think the key might relate to consciousness or subconsciousness? Editor: That’s fascinating! It feels like an invitation to explore the inner workings of the self, rather than just the external persona. So, it is also an image of duality between the outer and inner selves. I'm also curious, how the artist uses the staircase in the backdrop—in relationship to revealing of this inner state? Curator: Yes, the stairs and key suggest a process of uncovering, or even unlocking something deeply personal, and this contrasts greatly with what we expect with the symbolism of a mask! Staircases, keys, locks, they’ve all carried different meanings across time and cultures. What's more important, in my mind, is their position within the head and subconscious mind; that perhaps the journey isn't just linear from bottom to top. Editor: That really shifts how I see the piece. It's not just about showing vulnerability, but actively inviting the viewer into a complex journey of self-discovery and consciousness. Curator: Precisely. This isn't simply about the artist removing a facade. It’s about the journey into, through symbols that carry shared, even if unconscious, meanings. So a 'removal' leads not to vacancy, but discovery. Editor: I see how symbols operate at a deeper, almost unconscious level and how artists communicate with shared and understood meanings. I'm glad I peeled back one of the layers today. Curator: Likewise. Looking at art this way reminds us that these images talk back to us.