Masks Myths and Symbols

Masks, myths, and symbols have been used to explain the unknown, reveal the hidden and explore perceptions by cultures throughout the world since the beginning of time. Masking is universal. Masks are worn to protect, to provoke fear, to symbolize social status, to exalt, to mock, to amuse. They transport the wearer from the world of the mundane to one that is otherwise out of reach. Masks serve as vehicles through which tensions are relaxed, dilemmas resolved, social taboos bridged, and communication established.