Mask. Nepal, Middle Mountains.

Mask. Nepal, Middle Mountains.
Wood, with matte black patina and traces of pitch indicating the original presence of a mustache and a goatee.
Publication: Himalayas - Volume II - Liliane and Michel Durand-Dessert -Editions Eric Chazot
LMDD, 2011 N° 47
Measurements: 24,5 x 16 cm.

Mask coming from the Middle Mountains of Nepal, piece included in the collection of Liliane and Michel Durand-Dessert, catalogued as number 47 in their publication Himalaya - Volume II (Editions Eric Chazot, 2011).

Carved in wood, the mask presents a matte black patina, the result of prolonged use and exposure to smoke during rituals. Traces of tar on the surface indicate the original presence of a mustache and a goatee, elements that were probably added to accentuate the expressiveness of the face.

The mask is characterized by a geometric treatment and faceted decoration, which gives it an aesthetic that has been compared to the work of the Spanish sculptor Julio González, known for his plastic research and the use of abstract and angular forms. This is part of the influence of the abstraction of tribal art in the European avant-garde of the early twentieth century.

The masks of the Middle Mountains of Nepal are associated with ritual and ceremonial practices of local communities, where they are used in dances and theatrical performances that combine elements of Tibetan Buddhism with animist traditions. These masks not only serve as objects of worship, but are also artistic expressions that reflect the worldview and beliefs of the communities that produce them.