Cardboard Chinese Zodiac Masks

Ivar Theorin is currently making a series of Chinese zodiac masks from cardboard in the Open Studios at the Museum of Arts and Design. Visitors to the open studios have been able to try on the masks the see Ivar at work.

A re-occurring question from visitors has been: “Is this the finished work or will you add paint or some other finish to the masks?” My answer is, these works are three dimensional sketches and the process of making them is as important as the finished result. I deliberately leave them raw to make this process visible and to reveal traces of the spontaneous impulses that has guided me. It has been a fun project and the response has been great. People have been responding to the use of materials, and enjoyed the interactive element of trying the masks on.