Och så här blev affischbilden. Foto Peo Olsson.
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Äntligen här!
Äntligen kom så maskerna fram till Skånes Dansteater efter en lååång väntan. Under stor spänning öppnade vi den lilla metall lådan och många var nyfikna på maskerna som ligger som grund till alla koreografier i vår kommande Lunchdans. Här kommer några bilder från uppackandet och affischbilds fotograferingen.
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
The journey in Europe
WHAT A TRIP !!!!! THROUGHOUT EUROPE ! !!!!!!! So most custom control ... I wonder what they thought it was in the silverbox ??? Masks are still scary things !
Track & Trace
Track & Trace
Fyrispurningur settur 8. november 2009 kl. 18:07
Strikukoda: CA034216187AT
Dagur Kl. Skráseting
4. november 2009 19:34 Komin til Danmark
5. november 2009 01:32 Skrásett uttanlands
5. november 2009 01:33 Send til Føroyar
Gjørt verður vart við, at tað ikki ber til at leita eftir pakkum,
ið eru sendir fyri meira enn 6 mánaðum síðan.
Hevur tú spurningar viðv. skrásetingunum, set teg í samband við:
Kundatænastuna
Óðinshædd 2
FO 100 Tórshavn
Tlf: +298 34 6041
Tlf: +298 34 6042
kundatanastan@postur.fo
Strikukoda: CA034216187AT
Dagur Kl. Skráseting
4. november 2009 19:34 Komin til Danmark
5. november 2009 01:32 Skrásett uttanlands
5. november 2009 01:33 Send til Føroyar
Gjørt verður vart við, at tað ikki ber til at leita eftir pakkum,
ið eru sendir fyri meira enn 6 mánaðum síðan.
Hevur tú spurningar viðv. skrásetingunum, set teg í samband við:
Kundatænastuna
Óðinshædd 2
FO 100 Tórshavn
Tlf: +298 34 6041
Tlf: +298 34 6042
kundatanastan@postur.fo
SOMETIMES A SIMPLE JOURNEY TAKES TIME !!!!!!!!
But now they are on the Foroyar !
Monday, October 26, 2009
Snapshots with masks / last night in Berlin
The masks have been with us for three weeks here in Berlin, and tomorrow we will part with them. They will continue their journey to other Nordic artists, and we will travel to Vienna. The project “Tales from a mask” started our visit here in Berlin with a photo-shoot at the Holocaust memorial site, and on this last evening we end our stay in Berlin with taking some snapshots of us in private, at our rented apartment in Charlottenburg. Although it took us three weeks to document our own use of the masks, they have in deed been present in our conscience this whole period. The masks have been like friends visiting us, only much less work and a lot more suspense. What will come out of our meeting? We have had a lot of ideas – let the masks be tourist like us – or bring them to one of the stages in this European Capitol of theatre. Hanne has been at an actors` work-shop all weekend, and when she came home tonight, we knew the masks were waiting. Although we are so filled with impressions from our journey, the masks invited us into their journey this evening. We are a married couple who are used to act with one another, and the two masks do also seem to be related. We had a really interesting time discovering small things in our interaction, and tried to explore what the masks had to offer. Thank you masks, thank you Torbjörn Ahlström and thank you Berlin!
Snapshots with masks
Thursday, October 8, 2009
BERLIN
The masks are in Berlin ..... and what a journey they are brought to.. read and see the following pictures from their first days with Hanne and Ketil and their two kids. / T
Tales from a mask
We are so lucky to have made friends with actor and maskmaker Torbjörn Ahlström, whom we also invited to teach us in the mysteries of the masks at the S-laget – a place for cooperative art in Norway. It was with awe and great respect we accepted Torbjörn`s invitation to participate in his project “Tales from a mask”, where Nordic artists work with two of his masks for one month. We decided to bring the masks with us to Berlin, from where we are working in October 2009.
As trained actors with little experience in working with masks, Torbjörn`s workshop was like a reminder to rediscover the child within ourselves. We were too eager to succeed, and not as open to what could come out of the mask and the situation. Therefore we wanted to make an exercise where we could observe actual children bearing the masks in public. Our own children, Ingeborg and Asbjørn, were presented to the masks on location, at the memorial site of the holocaust victims in Berlin. This is a really exciting site whit great room for much interpretation from whoever visits it. To our children, it looks like a great playground, but to us who know the history, the rectangular stones very much remind us of tombstones or sarcophaguses. It is a place for life and for death. Let the children play!
We got some interesting photos out of our session with children and masks at the memorial site, and it was interesting to see how the masks attracted attention from both the children and other visitors at the site. Especially strange when a photographer started taking pictures of us taking pictures of the masked children.
When we asked the children how they had experienced wearing the masks, they both said they felt like grown-ups. And as you can see of the pictures, we think this influenced their physique and behavior.
We will work with the masks ourselves later this month, and will remind ourselves of how a child would approach the mask with curiosity and open-mindedness, and let the mask lead the way into grown-up characters! To start with an open mind…
Ketil Kolstad
Hanne Fjerdingstad
Tales from a mask
We are so lucky to have made friends with actor and maskmaker Torbjörn Ahlström, whom we also invited to teach us in the mysteries of the masks at the S-laget – a place for cooperative art in Norway. It was with awe and great respect we accepted Torbjörn`s invitation to participate in his project “Tales from a mask”, where Nordic artists work with two of his masks for one month. We decided to bring the masks with us to Berlin, from where we are working in October 2009.
As trained actors with little experience in working with masks, Torbjörn`s workshop was like a reminder to rediscover the child within ourselves. We were too eager to succeed, and not as open to what could come out of the mask and the situation. Therefore we wanted to make an exercise where we could observe actual children bearing the masks in public. Our own children, Ingeborg and Asbjørn, were presented to the masks on location, at the memorial site of the holocaust victims in Berlin. This is a really exciting site whit great room for much interpretation from whoever visits it. To our children, it looks like a great playground, but to us who know the history, the rectangular stones very much remind us of tombstones or sarcophaguses. It is a place for life and for death. Let the children play!
We got some interesting photos out of our session with children and masks at the memorial site, and it was interesting to see how the masks attracted attention from both the children and other visitors at the site. Especially strange when a photographer started taking pictures of us taking pictures of the masked children.
When we asked the children how they had experienced wearing the masks, they both said they felt like grown-ups. And as you can see of the pictures, we think this influenced their physique and behavior.
We will work with the masks ourselves later this month, and will remind ourselves of how a child would approach the mask with curiosity and open-mindedness, and let the mask lead the way into grown-up characters! To start with an open mind…
Ketil Kolstad
Hanne Fjerdingstad
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Monday, September 14, 2009
the Lapland project
Masks are important in the traditional Japanese dance discipline. With the change of slight angle of the mask, emotional, seasons and magic can be depicted. I feel we used these masks in a very subtle but sensitive way. We looked at the moon, saw the cloudberries growing along the path, sat to look ahead, etc.
We were magical characters like in Miyazakis "Spirited Away". We transformed from Noh-like elegance to ancient comedians like in Mibu Kyogen.
Thankyou for your masks!
Arigatoo gozaimashita
Heidi S Sakurako Durning
Fujima Kanso o (traditional dancename)
from Kyoto, Japan
after 11 performances with the smaller mask in Vargkaffe
We were magical characters like in Miyazakis "Spirited Away". We transformed from Noh-like elegance to ancient comedians like in Mibu Kyogen.
Thankyou for your masks!
Arigatoo gozaimashita
Heidi S Sakurako Durning
Fujima Kanso o (traditional dancename)
from Kyoto, Japan
after 11 performances with the smaller mask in Vargkaffe
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Vargkaffe/wolfcoffee
Vargkaffe - unik dansteater om vargar, väder och vikta lakan av och med tre koreografer från tre olika kontinenter Heidi Durning från Japan Dianne Reid från Australien Ami Skånberg Dahlstedt från Sverige premiär 1 september på Ricklundgården, Marsfjäll
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Masks have arrived to Lappland!
We opened the box together, Dianne Reid from Australia, Heidi Durning from Japan, and me, Ami Skånberg Dahlstedt from Brännö. They came all the way up here, to Ricklundgården, a museum and gueststudio in southern Lappland. This is where we will stay and work for six weeks. We opened them carefully as we have seen being done in temples in Kyoto, by Noh-actors.
We looked at them and each of us then tried them on.
First impression was:
The masks are really strong - how can we involve them in our performance? We are in the middle of creating a danceperformance with the name Vargkaffe/Wolfcoffee. A dancetheatrepiece about wolves, weather and folded blankets. Including video art by Dianne. At first we thought they must have something for themselves, that they wouldn´t find a place among wolves and blankets.
Then we thought they could dance with the caracter SnowQueen, who enters Wolfcoffee twice. They will move slowly with her and then go crazy making puppet theatre about the three of us climbing Marsfjäll. (miniatures) Heidi san just started making the dolls. So this will be their and our task for next week.
with energy and peace from Saxnäs in Marsfjäll!
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
HOBBIES
Hey friends !!!!!
Don't miss the great film that Petra Revenue made during her month with the masks! It is just a wonderful piece so don't miss it !!!!! Watch it and be sure to make comments !!!!
Thanks Petra and the rest that made this movie --- it really adds something unexpected to this journey !
Diary
Hey there all great people out there in the cyber space. I am sorry that I ahven't been writing for such a long time. Well - the masks are on their journey and I have been working so hard with the production of Kalevala at Vastana teater in Sweden. Now I just had two weeks of great vacation , something very needed. The masks happened to pass by my home for a few days and i took the chance to get some photos from the diary and also the mask on a friend of mine. Nasrin Barati, the artistic leader of the company Teater Sesam. The mask fitted her so great so I just had to take a few shots. Well below is some photos from the diary and the notes that some artists have been writing, and also a few shots on Nasrin. The masks are now with the great composer and musician Staffan Mossenmark. Read about him at http://www.mossenmark.com/
see you soon again !!!!
Sunday, June 7, 2009
PETRAS STORY
( I'm sorry --- This is just in swedish at the moment ...I will do my best to get it translated very soon... but I am at the moment to stressed and overworked with all the masks for Kalevala at Vastana Teater --it opens in only two weeks... sorry --but it will be translated )
När maskmakare Torbjörn Alström frågade mig om jag ville vara med i hans projekt med maskerna som åker runt till konstnärer i Norden så tänkte jag att jag ska faan inte göra nåt etniskt i så fall.
Det är nåt jobbigt med etniska inslag i teater, tycker jag. (i filmvärlden existerar inte begreppet, antagligen sitter filmfolk i smyg och skrattar åt det samtidigt som dom läppjar på sitt rosevin och pitchar en romantisk komedi om medelklassmediefolk- på ett fräckt ställe typ Hotell Avalon i Göteborg dit det bara går människor som vill ha segelbåt och eget solarium när det inte är filmfestival- för nån som tex heter Sture som garanterat tycker det är en toppenide)
Överhuvudtaget när kulturarbetare ska vara mångkulturella blir det knepigt om dom inte är mångkulturella själva. Ingen från nåt annat land vill väl jobba med ett sånt begrepp?
Just det där med att dansa balinesiskt och indiskt och liksom ta det för allvarligt får det att krypa i en eller hur? Man ska vara så jävla avslappnad med kroppen och rycka till på ett sätt som är naturligt i en helt annan kontext men liksom ta det bokstavligt och tro att man förstår alla religiösa mystiska innebörder i dessa främmande rörelsemönster.Nä jag pallar inte det.
Att blanda och inspireras och göra eget av det etniska hopkoket är dock nåt annat.
Men jag har en plan med masken. Det ska ju bli en kortfilm som ska heta Hobbies. Maskmannen ska göra ganska vanliga saker som att klippa tånaglarna, hälsa på hos PorrPeter, spela biljard och gå på Quizz. När jag diskuterade det med Dr Andersson, som är utbildad inom fysisk teater för hundra år sen, så sa han att det är nog så att Maskmannen inte får vara med. Han har ingen att spela med. Han får nog sitta vid ett eget bord på frågesporten.
Då tyckte jag synd om maskmannen fast han inte fanns ännu.
Jag var på pissdåligt humör hela dagen igår. Men jag hasade i alla fall upp till konstepidemin och mötte dansar-Anna som haft maskerna innan mig. Hon var ganska stressad över nåt produktionsmöte (kulturarbetare är likadana som filmfolk där, alla har så innihelvete mycket för sig) så det blev inget särskilt överlämnande utan hon hivade bara ut lådan genom fönstret.
Jag hasade surt vidare till Trixter och öppnade lådan där. Karin Blixt som jobbat lite med mask sa tidigare när vi diskuterade Torbjörns projekt; Jag undrar om maskens själ kommer att synas i allas dokumentation, eller om den kommer att te sig olika beroende på vem som har den?
Det är ju en sån där konstig grej som folk säger som kan det där med mask. Att masken har sin egen personlighet och liksom tar över den som bär den.
En del masker är jättebarnsliga, en del nästan sinnesslöa. Andra är kvicka, elaka eller har humor.
Jag vet inte, jag har inte jobbat med masker förut, även om Torbjörn regisserade en pjäs som jag skrivit i början av 90-talet. Den hette Bardo och utspelade sig i tibetanska dödsbokens skärseld (du ser hur konsekvent jag är, kan det bli mer etniskt???) Där var en man som haft massor med kvinnor och när han dog dök alla upp och spökade för honom ) En hade en älgkrona på huvudet. Det var jävligt maffigt men jag kommer inte ihåg varför.
Det låg i alla fall två masker i lådan. En kvinnlig och en manlig. Läser du detta på facebook så kan du spana in bilderna på maskerna nedan.
På måndag börjar vi spela in. Då hoppas jag jag är på bättre humör.
Dr Phil var på tv,n igår förresten. Jag kollade lite på honom när jag var för deppig för att skriva mer på ormarnas manus som ska vara klart för läsning i morgon.
Det var ett par där som gift sig och sen skilt sig för att han var otrogen jämt och var inne på en dejtingsajt och hon hade installerat spionkameror i deras rum och så satte han upp lappar här och var i lägenheten där det stod hur hon skulle bete sig.
Han ville höja standarden på deras hem, sa han till Dr Phil.
Men så skilde dom sig alltså men tre månader senare blev dom ihop igen.
Dr Phil kastade ett menande ögonkast ut i publiken.
Var det en bra ide?
Publiken susade för man vet ju inte med Dr Phil eller hur? Skojar han? Menar han allvar? Har han en retorisk poäng? Han är modig och frågar rakt ut;
Varför gifte ni om er?
Frun fick tårar i ögonen. För att jag inte vill vara med någon annan.
Men han har ju försökt strypa dig, sa Dr Phil. Han försökte ta barnen ifrån dig? Och titta här!
Dr Phil pekade på tvrutan bakom sig.
Där publicerades ett mail mannen skrivit till nån som hette Melissa tidigt på parets bröllopsdag. Han föreslog där att han och Melissa skulle ses när han kom tillbaka till Houston veckan därpå.
Jag tror inte den här mannen är giftasmaterial, sa Dr Phil.
Publiken jublade. Dr Phils faboulus-fifty-wife applåderade i närbild och nickade menande.
Då stängde jag av tv,n och låg i mörkret och grubblade på hur gammal jag blivit och på vad jag ska skriva om Karaokekungen idag så att bloggen handlar om filmen och inte blir min privata soptipp igen som den urartade till förra hösten. Den är ju ändå kopplad till Nordisk films hemsida och man vill ju inte verka som en surkärring som sitter hemma och tittar på Dr Phil och inte kommer på nåt vettigt att skriva.
Det är klart med förhandsvisningen nu på Kulturkalaset i alla fall 11 augusti, biljetter släpps den 3 augusti på stadsbiblioteket, och har du varit inblandad i projektet har vi Premiär 31 augusti så det är lika bra du skriver upp det datumet i kalendern. Den 14 augusti har filmen kommersiell förhandsvisning (vad det nu betyder) i Lidköping i en vecka, i September går den upp i större städer som Sthlm, Göteborg, Malmö och Uppsala...sen får vi se hur det går helt enkelt.
Jag ska luncha med producent Annika H idag och smida planer. Till dess ska jag rycka upp mig.
Monday, June 1, 2009
Tog upp maskerna samma kväll jag fick dem av Torbjörn. Provade den stora o tänkte att jag skulle göra en koreografi jag redan gjort. Men precis som för många andra så tog masken vid själv o jag gjorde helt andra rörelse till samma musik. Den lilla provade jag först några dagar senare eftersom den var helt stum när jag tog upp den första kvällen. Efter en stund växte en karaktär fram. Någon på väg. På en station. Med klåda i sig. Klåda över – vaddå!? Vet inte.
Den stora vägrade att bli en mänsklig karaktär. Var mer som ett djur. Det är verkligen något med masker. Något djupt och grundläggande i mig rörs.
Tyvärr var jag bortrest största delen av maj och kunde inte vara med maskerna som jag önskade. Längtan har väckts i mig att få möta mera och jag hoppas att jag kanske kan få låna dem en stund till vid tillfälle.
Fortsatt lycka till på resan. Om jag lyckas tanka in lite inspelat videomaterial till datorn från den lånade kameran så kan det så småningom finnas små snuttar på bloggen.
/Anna Wennerbeck
I opened the box with the masks the same day I got them. I tried the larger one and had the plan to try a choreography I allready have, but of course the mask decided something different and made totally different movements to the music. The smaller one I tried on first a few days later because at the first meeting the first day it seamed so mute. After a while though a character was developing in my mind. Someone on a journey, on his or her way somewhere, on a station maybe. Someone that carried some itching inside herself. Itching ? Why ? I don't know. The larger mask refused to become a human character. More like an animal. It is something special with masks, soemthing deep and profound inside me are being touched.
Unfortunately I was gone for most of the month and couldn't work as much as I wanted with the masks, but I really hope I can get a chance to meet them again during this journey.
Good luck on the continue of the journey, and if I am able to download a few video clips from my work I will do so.
/ Anna Wennerbeck
Saturday, May 23, 2009
The masks left for a few weeks ago. I spent an intense time working in Denmark, thinking what the masks have contributed.
As always in a creative process artistic encounters seem to synchronize. The masks came to me perfectly timed.
I was working with a script for the Swedish Radio Theatre, my journey with the script started with 2 characters, Memory and Forgetfulness. The masks took the shape of those characters. They told me stories, inspired me, touched me. Writing is a horrible lonesome experience. But the masks gave me company, I could play with them. They seemed to connect me to all needed wisdom.
Thanx for visiting me!!
Åsa Simma
As always in a creative process artistic encounters seem to synchronize. The masks came to me perfectly timed.
I was working with a script for the Swedish Radio Theatre, my journey with the script started with 2 characters, Memory and Forgetfulness. The masks took the shape of those characters. They told me stories, inspired me, touched me. Writing is a horrible lonesome experience. But the masks gave me company, I could play with them. They seemed to connect me to all needed wisdom.
Thanx for visiting me!!
Åsa Simma
Friday, May 8, 2009
NEXT ARTIST---- delivery
So..new month , and a new artist. This time it is the dancer Anna Wennerbeck that will host the masks for one month .... see the delivery below !!!!!!!!
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Masks enter my home
After a nice quiet time in the arctic, just facing white snow, like an empty sketchpad, I meet the masks.
I unpack the box carefully, suddenly I have two souls in the hand. My heart starts to beat, I have to pack down the bigger mask. To much power to have them both in my hands.
I try the smaller mask, suddenly I hear a story being told from my new guest. There is an urgency to make me understand its past. I call the smaller mask, my little sister.
The bigger mask is still dwelling in its box, I feel i have to be careful, I have to learn to know them one by one. I have a feeling that the bigger mask will complete the story that my little sister is starting to tell. I let my son, 12 years old meet my little sister. His reaction is strong, he is pleased but scared. In the night when he went to bed. He wanted my little sister to wake him up. I woke up at 5 am, prepared my little sister to use my body. She does not want to use my voice yet. She walks to the bed of my son. Gently wakes him up. He got scared, he told me later that he has much respect for my little sister.
Åsa Simma
I unpack the box carefully, suddenly I have two souls in the hand. My heart starts to beat, I have to pack down the bigger mask. To much power to have them both in my hands.
I try the smaller mask, suddenly I hear a story being told from my new guest. There is an urgency to make me understand its past. I call the smaller mask, my little sister.
The bigger mask is still dwelling in its box, I feel i have to be careful, I have to learn to know them one by one. I have a feeling that the bigger mask will complete the story that my little sister is starting to tell. I let my son, 12 years old meet my little sister. His reaction is strong, he is pleased but scared. In the night when he went to bed. He wanted my little sister to wake him up. I woke up at 5 am, prepared my little sister to use my body. She does not want to use my voice yet. She walks to the bed of my son. Gently wakes him up. He got scared, he told me later that he has much respect for my little sister.
Åsa Simma
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Yes, it was very nice to see Torbjörn in my studio at Konstepidemin!
He walked around talking to me as he was taking pictures of what he could see of my ongoing work for his mask-journey. But he behaved very well! He looked for angles that didn't betrayed too much what was going on – and I´m sure that he even blurred most of his photos.
Then we went to The Blue House-restaurant at Konstepidemin, were the artists in the area have a very lively social exchange at lunchtime. Even though many of my colleagues had a "long time no see” – thing with Torbjörn, I managed to capture his attention telling him about how his masks had made a tour to see my mother for her eighty-eight years birthday.
And this is the story he asked me to share with you:
Together with the masks I took the train to Habo, a village two hours away from Göteborg. Inside my bag was also what I needed to create a little photo-studio in my mothers living room.
My sister and brother were also there and my plan was to take pictures of them and of my mother, with and without the mask. I had already started with my son and daughter, as well as with myself in Göteborg. Another reason to come was a meeting we were going to have with a nurse and a social-worker from the local authority about our mothers present and coming needs.
For me there´s always a mental strain involved in going back “home”, connected with going back to the past. I realise how time flies and how we all are getting older. I see it in my mother as well as in my brother and sister faces. Seeing myself in the mirror I feel as my life is creeping up behind me. And on top of it all, our father is dead and mother is loosing her memory ... Oh, do you see how miserable it can get! What to do to cheer up?
Time to put on the mask!
It was the masks that gave me the idea to take organized portraits of the closest family. I wanted to investigate the similarities and differences between us. For example, how would our differences appear when we were wearing the same mask. In what way would we act differently physically, behave differently towards each other? And most important, I wanted to collect a material to explore and to go on working with in my studio.
Then, when it came to real-life in Habo, questions came up weather to participate or not. A situation that I hoped wouldn't turn up. To be photographed wearing the mask was not the big problem. Together with Torbjörns text about the project, the masks seemed just exciting and fascinating, maybe something exotic. No, it was to sit without the mask, not knowing where the picture would be exposed that was the biggest problem! Thinking about it now, this problem makes this mask-journey even more interesting as it also makes our face of flesh and blood, visible. What's there to hide? Our identity? Our vulnerability? Our naked face? Our shame? Then it also comes to my mind; that some masks, especially the ritual mask, could have the function of releasing us under its cover - protecting us, in the same time as it is exposing us ... So, maybe it's possible that a mask could help something private to be communicated into the public.
I had already presented the idea and my wish to take pictures of our family. This more as a fact than a question. Because, why would anyone question weather to or not to participate? So why awake the question? Should they not trust me, being their brother and all ..! But still, even if I´m their brother it's not strange to worry, specially as I´m an artist. In the history of art- and literature as well as in the contemporary debate there're many example were individuals has their private lives exposed.
Even so, I see the private sphere and the relationships within the family as something political and something too important to be hidden and left in the dark. It's important to investigate the tricky limits around privacy and how open it's possible to be. But one thing is for sure: It's easy to step on sore toes on our way! For example, what does it mean to be loyal to ones family? I claim that everybody have the right to their own history and to make it public if they want to. But the aspects around the limits between the private and public are very sensible to everybody. I think that a feeling of being exposed often is connected to shame. The feeling of shame seem to be one of the most powerful feelings, and in its negative aspect it's maybe the most dangerous emotion of all.
Sensitive issues in general makes the form of what you want to communicate very important and as important as your purpose! The more tricky and sensitive subject, the more skill and care is needed to give it form.
Back in the living-room:
Before the birthday-dinner it was time to take the photos. I covered my grandmothers big painting over the sofa with my black sheet I brought for the night. Then I put a mirror to reflect the light from the window towards the dark side of the face of the one who was going to sit there on the couch.
I was still worried that mother would not like to be photographed, maybe even refuse. And would any of them like to put on a hard wooden mask, used before and by whom? But why not, I argued inside myself; It's not every day you are offered the experience of wearing and seeing your self in a mask, playing with our identity and to do this together with your own family! But, I thought:
“I better warm them up by starting without the mask”.
My mother was first to start. To my relief she even seemed eager to pose. Soon she looked like she had entered another and a better world. Excited, I noticed the great things I could see through my camera and as I didn't want it to end I let her know how great she was! Her reaction, to my compliments about her good looks and skills as a model, were:
- It's just because I'm looking at you with love!
Well, I was happy about that ... But no time to dwell on that, we had to continue with the mask-pictures. First she took the smallest of the two masks in her hands and started by loudly sniff into it, asking:
- How many have used this mask before?
- I'm just the second artist to have it … I answered with some hesitation, not knowing what that meant in numbers of faces.
I don't know how much difference that answer made, but she just put the mask over her face.
“Brave done mother”, I thought thinking about all the warnings she has given me over the years about germs!
When I saw her wearing the mask, I noticed that her movements somehow were released and made her act more animated from before and move her head more freely.
“This is a another great and a unique moment”, I said to myself and didn't want to stop taking pictures.
Just like me, my sister love to pose. But now she was emotionally stressed and tired by putting a lot of worries and attention towards our mother. So when it was her turn, she allowed herself to look just as exhausted as she was and said in a deep exhale:
- Well, this is the way I feel ...
Still, she was enough happy to be in focus so it didn't took her very long before she looked her best. She relaxed and was soon as beautiful as always, just by being there. The magic was repeated.
Then my brother said that he maybe didn't want to be a part of this.
“Here it comes”, I thought.
- Please, I pleaded!
He started to ask a lot of questions about the purpose and in what context the pictures would be shown. Without the mask he could be recognized. I tried to explain. Still, he didn't want to say yes. The others argued in favour of his case. I felt my panic rising and wanted to tell him he had to, even forcing him somehow! I suddenly felt like I was small again with my older brother trying to stop me from getting what belong to me. But I had to take myself together and went on explaining about my ideas, much more than I liked to, just to make him say yes. And in the end he did say yes!
A moment later he looked as he was almost happy to sit in front me.
“Puh, this was a cliffhanger!”, I thought as I noticed how this situation defined our different personalities and position within the family.
Trying on both masks The first born started to get more and more involved. He showed me what a difference it made if his mouth was open to better fit the opening of the mask. I realized that I'd missed that detail earlier!
We agreed to concentrate on the bigger, more masculine mask, even if it were a bit too big for our family's small sized sculls. More than I'd seen before, I noticed that the big mask had a kind of gorilla-look that also reinforced the difference between male and female looks. He then asked our sister to hurry back to sit for some more photos with the small mask. I don't know what my mother thought, maybe it was this primitive animalistic aspect that made her so amused. But by seeing her daughter and son wearing the masks, she burst out laughing her head off. What a joy to see her so light-hearted! Yes, thanks to the masks this moments became the highlights of her birthday.
- I haven't laughed this much in years, she said!
With this story and its happy ending, knock in woood … I say thanks for me and thanks to you for taking part of the mask-journey so far!
I also wish the next mask-carrier a happy relationship with the two masks!
Nils Ramhøj
Friday, March 20, 2009
Notes from a conversation
I went today to the artcommunity "Konstepidemin" in Gothenburg to meet with Nils Ramhoj, the recent keeper of the two masks. It turned out to be an amazing hour and a half which created many thoughts in my mind. Thoughts around art in general and thoughts around this project in particular.
We went to have lunch at the restaurant just by the studio of Nils. It's part of the community so all the different artists, musicians, dancers, writers and actors form the different studios gather there during lunchtime. At this particular lunch we came to sit at the same table as the great folkmusician Jonas Simonsson and the artist Pecka Söderberg. Jonas wanted to discuss if the art sector was diivided into different levels of art, and it's relation towards the issue of handcraft in art. He had recently been part of a discussion at the Music Academy where he felt a strong division between finer music and less fine music.. We got into a very interesting discussion around this subject that even now creates echoes in my mind of what is art? Who decide what art is? What is this project ? Art or ?????? Well in some ways I end up thinking; Is it important to know if it's art or not, do I actually care ? I guess it comes to the point that it's up to the individual to make that decision, when it all finally is presented. In this project something became very clear today sitting in the studio of Nils and just talked, talking around the basic idea itself and my other ongoing project of writing a book on my ideas on masks and it's artistic as well as social function. I realized that it's as I allready mentioned in the very first description of the project, that it was about stories and how they are createda and developed. BUT - one importnat thing was added today --- the discussion, the conversations that the project itself are initiating. I realized how important this is. Art as a reason to converse ! In some ways I am sad I didn't realize this a bit earlier... the strong inspiration it would become for me to listen to the journey that Nils have been through this last month and the journey the masks have been on, and I suddenly hoped so much to have been able to have this converastions with all the artists, but the allready made up plans makes this impossible. maybe i have to find another way to see if it is possible in some way. I just really got so thrilled by my own realisation that is this mix of expression, impression, inspiration and conversation that the re
al story are created, and if thats not art I don't know what art is. Torbjorn
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Torbjörn was here!
Well, so now everybody is expecting an exciting story from me ... we´ll see ...
But first a foto through a mirror in my studio, See a fragment of what Torbjörn could see ...
Friday, March 13, 2009
Mr Fringeys comment
I guess I never really thought about how they would be transported. This process seems to be as fascinating as the making of the masks. It is like the silence before the curtain rises, the pause before the punchline. This is going to be so BIG!
Happy Travels!
Happy Travels!
The Visit at Nils Studio
I just need to tell about the great visit I made today at the studio of Nils Ramhoj. To see the work he was doing and even more the stories he told me about the visits he taken the masks on and the thoughts the masks had created in him. I wish you all could had been there. But I know that Nils will write more soon, so just be patient and you will bedrawn into a great story.
See you soon again...I will soon write more !!!!!
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Sunday, February 22, 2009
*Ansiktet är själens form. Det är på denna plats, på denna scen, som livet lättast bjuder upp och kanaliserar sin kraft. Man skulle även kunna säga: ansiktet är livets mask. Märk väl att detta inte utesluter att somliga förvandlar hela sina kroppar till ansikten.
*Michael Azar, Ögon/blickar, citat ur boken Bilder av en far (see: www.nilsramhoj.se)
We are very sensitive to other peoples faces and good at reading their expressions. If someone is trying to keep a straight face to cover up what´s really going on inside, we notice. No wonder that it can be a relief to put on a mask to hide behind now and again.
To put on a real mask, like the kind Torbjörn is making, over your own face is scary. It can be a very uncomfortable experience. It can make you wonder who you really are, when you no longer see your well-known face in the mirror. The same kind of question comes up when someone you know very well takes on a mask. Can she or he longer be trusted? Also meeting someone to you totally unknown wearing a mask can make you jump. Is it a enemy or a friend?
I have sometimes seen it as my task to uncover, to see through, expose what´s behind the surface of a façade. To find the true face behind a mask. Not to put on a mask, but to be true and honest. To take it off. Well, that gives me plenty to do as we most of the time are protecting ourself by wearing our mask of flesh and blood.
I do portraits quite often. Maybe I make only one picture of a person and that only image has to look like and reflect that specific personality. Of course, it is insane to think that one single expression can reflect the whole diversity of a person. Impossible! Represent maybe, but not reflect the complexity of someone.
And even worse; while trying to get under the skin, to unmask that person, I realize what I´m really doing is to superimpose my own ”face” over the others. This is happening while thinking I was uncovering the true face of that person! And which is the true face of someone? We have so many.
So, as I have always worked with the human face and its expressions in my art, it was great that Torbjörn asked me to take care of his two masks. Directly after his question that night at Röda Sten and the first feeling of pressure of being asked to produce had faded, the ideas started spinning in my head. But first, after seeing the sceptical expression of my face, Torbjörn felt he had to calm me by saying:
- Nils, it´s OK if nothing happens, maybe the masks won´t evoke anything in you. And that´s just fine, you don´t have to do anything … just let them stay with you for a month.
Yes, Torbjörn is a smart guy! I even let him get away with:
- All you have to do, is to document what the masks do or don´t do to you …
And here I sit with the masks … I´m both a bit angry at Torbjörn because he make me have to work … and have to challenge myself, but also happy and thankful because he gave me a reason to do so. Time is short, and as I have a lot of GRAND plans, I´ll probably fail … but and yes, Torbjörn also include failure in the project. So how could I fail? And indeed, just the ideas in themselves that was coming up from knowing that I would have to confront the masks, have made the job already .!?
So, time to document ;-)!
Nils Ramhøj
*Michael Azar, Ögon/blickar, citat ur boken Bilder av en far (see: www.nilsramhoj.se)
We are very sensitive to other peoples faces and good at reading their expressions. If someone is trying to keep a straight face to cover up what´s really going on inside, we notice. No wonder that it can be a relief to put on a mask to hide behind now and again.
To put on a real mask, like the kind Torbjörn is making, over your own face is scary. It can be a very uncomfortable experience. It can make you wonder who you really are, when you no longer see your well-known face in the mirror. The same kind of question comes up when someone you know very well takes on a mask. Can she or he longer be trusted? Also meeting someone to you totally unknown wearing a mask can make you jump. Is it a enemy or a friend?
I have sometimes seen it as my task to uncover, to see through, expose what´s behind the surface of a façade. To find the true face behind a mask. Not to put on a mask, but to be true and honest. To take it off. Well, that gives me plenty to do as we most of the time are protecting ourself by wearing our mask of flesh and blood.
I do portraits quite often. Maybe I make only one picture of a person and that only image has to look like and reflect that specific personality. Of course, it is insane to think that one single expression can reflect the whole diversity of a person. Impossible! Represent maybe, but not reflect the complexity of someone.
And even worse; while trying to get under the skin, to unmask that person, I realize what I´m really doing is to superimpose my own ”face” over the others. This is happening while thinking I was uncovering the true face of that person! And which is the true face of someone? We have so many.
So, as I have always worked with the human face and its expressions in my art, it was great that Torbjörn asked me to take care of his two masks. Directly after his question that night at Röda Sten and the first feeling of pressure of being asked to produce had faded, the ideas started spinning in my head. But first, after seeing the sceptical expression of my face, Torbjörn felt he had to calm me by saying:
- Nils, it´s OK if nothing happens, maybe the masks won´t evoke anything in you. And that´s just fine, you don´t have to do anything … just let them stay with you for a month.
Yes, Torbjörn is a smart guy! I even let him get away with:
- All you have to do, is to document what the masks do or don´t do to you …
And here I sit with the masks … I´m both a bit angry at Torbjörn because he make me have to work … and have to challenge myself, but also happy and thankful because he gave me a reason to do so. Time is short, and as I have a lot of GRAND plans, I´ll probably fail … but and yes, Torbjörn also include failure in the project. So how could I fail? And indeed, just the ideas in themselves that was coming up from knowing that I would have to confront the masks, have made the job already .!?
So, time to document ;-)!
Nils Ramhøj
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Hepp! Here we go ...
De två maskerna skickades till mig från Stockholm av januari månads mask-innehavare Jimmy Meurling. Tyvärr hade jag just då fullt upp med att söka projektbidrag, men från mitten av månaden har jag på olika vis förhållit mig till dessa två masker. Flera idéer kom till mig redan innan jag fick maskerna i min hand. De uppslag jag sedan började realisera är de som bäst smälter samman med mitt sedan tidigare planerade arbete. Jag ser framför mig att jag kommer att följa detta spår tills det ebbar ut eller tar andra vägar.
För mig har resan bara börjat!
Nils Ramhøj
För mig har resan bara börjat!
Nils Ramhøj
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MARIA LINDELL med Gudruns mask
Maskernas Resa
