(Un) Masking
(Dé) Masquer / (Des) Enmascarar
2022, Cultural Institute of Mexico in Montreal/ESPACIO MEXICO
Project supported by the Canada Council for the Arts and the Conseil des arts et lettres du Québec
Within the framework of the theme of the 2022 edition of the Underground Art festival, Voies / Voix Résilientes (Resilient Paths / Voices), the artist María Ezcurra presents a set of masks and costumes that—instead of hiding or altering her identity—reflect individual experiences, as well as social—and therefore political—issues related to the pandemic.
The pieces presented in this exhibition work as processes and forms of reflection, thus reviewing the connection of our confined bodies with space, the implications of physical limits in social interaction and in our own identity. Created in the artist's home-workshop over the past year, the masks and costumes also explore how this "new normal" has affected the lives of women, working mothers, children and adolescents, as well as immigrant communities—affected always for the distances.
The masks have been made from everyday materials and household items such as tea bags and washing machine fluff, stones and flowers, colored sponges and gold and silver fibers, labels, zippers and buttons, shrunken clothing and slimming corsets that make it difficult to breathe. There are also suits made from bird cages and metal insulating blankets—used as emergency shelters—and cocoons made from nylon stockings.
Functioning as liminal sites that mediate, protect and limit the body, many of these pieces have been activated by a series of participants, friends and family of the artist. The resulting photographs of these interactions reflect diverse experiences and visions, interweaving stories structured by personal memories, as well as by the common circumstances that have affected us in these times of social distancing.
Thus, when interpersonal relationships have become even more distant, this exhibition shows to what extent the pandemic has changed the way we perceive ourselves and the world around us, as well as our way of relating, also allowing us to connect with other forms of coexistence.
Credits: This project was carried out in collaboration with: Pedro Orozco, Matías Orozco Ezcurra, Eugenia Orozco Ezcurra, Julia von Hertwig Moratti Rosa, Lev and Mekseb.
Project carried out with the support of the Canada Council for the Arts and the Conseil des arts et lettres du Québec.
Thanks to the support of Siete|media, Café 92, Remigio Valdés de Hoyos, Serge Murphy and the other participants who preferred not to be named.
Photo: Maria Ezcurra
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Photo: Maria Ezcurra
Photo: Maria Ezcurra
Photo: Maria Ezcurra
Mask made with kitchen sponges
Photo: Pedro Orozco
Photo: Maria Ezcurra
Cloth Mask
Photo: Maria Ezcurra
Collaboration with Eugenia Orozco
Photo: Maria Ezcurra
Mask made from recovered cardboard
Photo: Maria Ezcurra
Mask made with stones and thread
Photo: Maria Ezcurra
Washing machine lint
Photo: Maria Ezcurra
Placemats
Photo: Maria Ezcurra
Collaboration with Pedro Orozco
Photo: Maria Ezcurra
Photo: Pedro Orozco
Collaboration with M&MK
Masks made from repurposed household materials
Photo: Eugenia Orozco
Collaboration with M&MK
Masks made from repurposed household materials
Photo: Eugenia Orozco
Embroidered Fabric
Collaboration with Julia von Hertwig Moratti Rosa
Photo: Matías Orozco & Lev
Shapewear
Photo: Julia von Hertwig Moratti Rosa & Matías Orozco
Collaboration with Matías Orozco and Julia von Hertwig Moratti Rosa
Cloth masks and digital projection
Photo: Lev
Collaboration with Matías Orozco and Julia von Hertwig Moratti Rosa
Nylon Stocking Masks
Photo: Lev
Collaboration with Julia von Hertwig Moratti Rosa and Lev
Masks made with reclaimed packaging material and artificial flowers
Photo: Matías Orozco
Collaboration with Julia von Hertwig Moratti Rosa
Masks made from reclaimed packaging material and artificial flowers
Photo: Matías Orozco
Collaboration with Lev and Matías Orozco
Masks made with recovered materials
Photo: Julia von Hertwig Moratti Rosa