What are masks for?
Masks have been worn by many different people throughout history. They are worn around the world for different reasons.
The faces or characters that appear on masks come from stories, times in history or the mask-maker's imagination.
Masks can be made from many different materials, such as wood, straw, stone and plastic.
Masks sometimes have Three-dimensional (3D) parts are not flat. parts on them. They also sometimes have parts that are layered for decoration. These might be slightly raised or bumpy.
Masks are usually worn over the face but sometimes they are worn on different parts of the body. For example, the Benin mask from West Africa was worn around the waist.
What are some of the reasons why people might wear a mask?
Sometimes people wear masks:
- to celebrate
- to protect their faces
- for religious reasons
Watch how to make your own 3D mask
Find out how to create a mask inspired by Benin masks from West Africa
Laura Hopkinson: Masks are an important part of many cultures around the world.
Look at the design and detail on these masks from Benin, a country in West Africa. They represent people of great power.
I'm going to make a mask inspired by this style. Why don't you have a go too?
You will need: Coloured paper, cardboard, pens or pencils, glue and scissors (and a grown-up to help with cutting).
Look at this one I've already made. See how everything is the same on each side? This means it is symmetrical.
To make your mask symmetrical too, take a piece of coloured paper and fold it down the middle.
Start at the folded edge, draw a big curve. Now ask a grown-up to help cut around the curve.
When you unfold it, you will have your mask shape and a line to show the middle.
Now you can draw the face. Two eyes the same shape and the same distance either side of the middle. A nose. A mouth.
Use coloured paper to make shapes to decorate your mask.
Once you're happy with how it looks, glue the pieces on. Look at that! Beautiful.
Masks around the world
Here are examples of some masks from different times and places. You could use these as inspiration to design or even make your own mask.
Image caption, Venice Carnival masks in Italy
Sometimes masks are worn as part of a carnival. This person is at the Venice Carnival. It happens every year in Venice, Italy. The carnival always involves costumes and masks. This mask is made using a technique called papier mâché. It has detailed patterns on it.
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Glossary
Here are the meanings of some important words.
Mask - Masks can be worn to celebrate, to hide, to protect the face or for religious reasons.
Three-dimensional - Three-dimensional (3D) parts are not flat.
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