Would you like to see your own face in 3d? Imagine holding your own face in your hand. It’s not exactly like looking in the mirror, but it’s similar! I have been working on face casting and mask making recently and wanted to share some of the photos and videos. This process has been in collaboration with several of my classmates in the Engaged Humanities MA program at the Pacifica Graduate Institute.
What’s it like to have a cast of your body made? Most people find the process to be spiritual and deeply meaningful. It’s a slow process and involves very ancient and basic materials of plaster, string, water, and soap. It’s reminiscent of the tradition of making a death mask. In a similar fashion, the process can symbolically represent the death of an old persona and the beginning of a new phase in life.
Whoever looks into the mirror of the water will see first of all his own face. Whoever goes to himself risks a confrontation with himself. The mirror does not flatter, it faithfully shows whatever looks into it; namely, the face we never show to the world because we cover it with the persona, the mask of the actor. But the mirror lies behind the mask and shows the true face.
