A Temple of Masks is an interactive sculpture project started and led by Jason Gronlund which won an honorarium from Burning Man in 2020. When the event was canceled, Jason continued to work on the masks in the hopes of finishing the piece and showing it somewhere when the time was right. Slowly but surely the masks were being completed, and the project started to take on a more collaborative approach. In Guadalajara where his studio is located, he started working with local artists to design and build new masks. With each new collaboration the collection of masks has become more and more diverse, with many different styles, themes, expressions, forms, and personalities. With the goal of creating more than 100 unique masks for the completed temple, collaboration between artists is what will make this project a success. Thanks to @daniel_acosta_mx , @liqen , @foyok_333 , @rodrigocourtney , @hannakatarinaalexandra , Mikey Brezinski, Bunnie Reiss, and @guyphytsy for your contributions to A Temple of Masks.
What we are making
A TEMPLE OF MASKs is a pyramid-like structure covered from top to bottom with unique masks made of chromed steel. A six-sided spire at the top connects the two structural legs and supports a poofing flame halo at its highest point. Two awnings provide shade over the entrances as well as support illuminated mask chandeliers. From a distance, the chromed masks will appear shiny and reflect any light cast upon it. More illuminated masks will hang from the center spire on the inside where they will cast light into the interior space. Just outside the temple entrances are two smaller pyramid-shaped stands with masks that can be used by the participants. Every mask has a different theme, expression, shape and detail that sets it apart from the rest, adding an eclectic aesthetic to the overall sculpture.
Why Masks?
Masks have been made and used by many different cultures all over the world since the beginning of civilization. They hold a special place even now in the modern era where they are still routinely used in a variety of ways; to entertain, tell the truth, hide one’s true identity, speak freely, celebrate, and especially in satire. A literal mask is not even necessary anymore as people can create whole personalities and ideologies that are not actual representations of the truth, but clever disguises meant to manipulate the existing order of things. Whatever they are used for there is no denying the magic of these neutral objects, a device that transforms someone into something altogether different. This can be an alluring concept given the complexities of human interaction, and a good reminder that this modern world is maybe not so different than the ancient ones where people were also compelled to make and use masks to alter the outcomes of any given situation.