Masks

Hiding, so as to be revealed.

_{Mask, 2021, N95 surgical mask, plastic wrapping, glass beads.}

In this session I wanted to explore how mask wearing in the UK went from something foreign, an unknown, to necessity, a mandatory ritual for our safety and those around us, and how the mask became a fashion accessory, it enabled personal expression.

The mask has become so much more than a face covering; it can become part of a persons aesthetic. It can protect. It can not protect. Because of this it is symbolic, an indicator of an individuals political views.

I thought about my own mask wearing habits and it has made me think about how in a short period of time, over the past 12-18 months or so my relationship with them has evolved. Now it seems like that metamorphosis is going backwards – I’m less inclined to wear one because I know that their effectiveness has been challenged by science. And yet I still feel obliged, and I do wear a mask in certain situations or around certain people. To make others feel comfortable, to feel safe. Mask wearing in this way, has become perforative. Its all for show.

_{Mask, detail.}