Miniature Mask c. 20th century

This Luba Miniature Mask at the Minneapolis Institute of Art, stands just under two feet tall. It's made from wood, pigment, and fibers, and is an incredible feat of craftsmanship. I imagine the artist, carefully selecting each strand of fiber, each dab of pigment. What were they thinking as they built this small but powerful object? I’m trying to picture the movement of the hands, the decisions, the small corrections. The face of the mask, with its careful striations, is quite minimal, in contrast to the explosion of fiber at the top and bottom. The textures work together to create a compelling tension. The addition of these natural materials gives it an earthly quality, a connection to something ancient and maybe even a little bit dangerous. The dark eyes and mouth are striking – not overly expressive, but certainly present. It’s the kind of work that suggests a whole world of meaning, a cultural history that I can only begin to imagine.