Noh Masks

When the performers wear these masks, they will become different people, as did I when I got my cochlear implant eight years ago. Visuospatial ability is reduced by wearing the mask, echoing the experience of seeing and hearing a completely different world of vibration and sound. The size is very close to traditional Noh mask, but the jaw remains uncovered to express emotion, blending a human element with that of the ghostly blankness of the mask.

In their blankness therefore, these masks can imprint the full range of emotions: anger, joy, sadness, and pleasure. The surface of the mask is ghostly, inhuman, but dramatic spotlighting allows the mask to express a strong identity, and subtle changes in the lights can evoke a variety of expressions. I have intentionally removed the features of the eyes, nose, and mouth to emphasize this concept.