Maske 1995

This artwork is a mask made by Manuela Sambo. The mask form is a vessel carrying echoes of ancient ritual and disguise. The polka dots recall celestial maps—stars clustered in the night sky—and, in a more earthly sense, are reminiscent of the leopard, a recurring animal in the symbolism of power and transformation across cultures. One may be reminded of the ‘spotted’ gods and figures of ancient lore, who donned the leopard’s skin, bearing within them a transformative, spiritual power. The mask is more than an object; it is a conduit. It allows us to tap into a collective memory where identity blurs, and transformation occurs. Like the ancient Greek theatrical masks, this one has the potential to amplify human emotions, and project our inner selves onto the world. Through the mask, we are reminded of art's role in mediating the seen and the unseen.