Our piece has developed so much since our initial idea as we wanted to use drama masks, such as the white masks, however we have discussed and developed this idea into something a little more subtle getting the members of the public to interpretate what they see, which is very much similar to what the public do when they are in the usher gallery. Which makes our performance an exhibition. Our stimuli is still the same, which is masking. Masking reality. For instance the painting which was in the Usher gallery by John Carmichael. Due to this painting being a masked painting of Lincoln at the time, it is also stated in the text next to the painting that it is an idealized viewing of the Bradford.
Why are things masked? Why is reality changed? What is the point of this?
‘ The masking disclosure replaces the reality, as it is more compelling than reality ‘ Sjoberg, Laura (1979) Gender, Justice, And wars in Iraq: A feminist reformulation of just war theory’ it states (ed) A Reconstructive Project for Feminist Just War Theory, Little field Publishers, Pg 209. I agree with quote from this book, as it does idealize a product making something better than what it actually is. Whether that is a painting or a person. This in our piece is very something that we are wanting to portray, using make-up as the mask identifying the social factors in today’s society. The idea of masking replacing reality, reflects a dishonest portrait. Features are highlighted in a positive manner by using masking . Paintings in the usher gallery for me seem to reflect the idealistic themes that run through the room. The quote used above states that masking is more compelling than reality which in some cases are true. However in other cases or other themes reality can be a beneficial to the project creating a hard hitting message.
By using make-up in our piece both applying ( masking) and removing it (naturalistic) it forms a balanced message for our audience, showing the filtered version of ourselves the removing the making up showing the no filter and honest image of ourselves. which does allow the audience to have their own interpretation of our work, making them ask particular questions about what we are doing, whether we as a society are being masked to believe what is right what is wrong? what is beauty what is not? This links to Carmichael’s painting of masking, as his idealized picture of the Brayford connects with our interpretation of idealizing our faces by using make-up to create and look different that highlights the image which we want to look like.