Tag: Masks & Veils

“Man is least himself when he talks in his own person. Give him a mask, and he will tell you the truth.”

Mask of Warka from Ancient Mesopotamia

On By Indrajit Roy ChoudhuryIn Iraq, Museums & Galleries, Prehistory & Ancient History11 Comments

The Mask of Warka, also known as the 'Lady of Uruk' and the 'Sumerian Mona Lisa' is a stunning marble face that dates back to around 3100 BCE. It was found in the city of Uruk, which is now called Warka in modern Iraq. It is the earliest known representation of the human face that was most likely an embodiment of the Goddess Inanna, the Sumerian goddess of love, war, beauty, sex and fertility. The mask gives us a glimpse into the culture and religion of one of the oldest civilizations in the world.

Chhau Dance & Paryavaran Mela in Ranchi

On By Judhajit RoychoudhuryIn Folk art & culture, Heritage, India15 Comments

We went to the Paryavaran Mela in Ranchi and saw a lovely Chhau dance in the evening. Chhau binds together people from different social strata and ethnic backgrounds with diverse social practices, beliefs, professions, and languages. This semi-classical dance form originated at the royal court of Saraikela, now in Jharkhand. However, increasing industrialization, economic pressures, and new media are leading to a decrease in collective participation with communities becoming disconnected from their roots.

Iraq Museum: Refuge for Relics of Mesopotamia

On By Indrajit Roy ChoudhuryIn Heritage, Iraq, Museums & Galleries, Prehistory & Ancient History11 Comments

The Iraq Museum is one of the best archaeological museums in the world, containing the material evidence for the development of civilised human society from the very beginning of its history. The museum enshrines Iraq as the cradle of civilisation, the source of writing and statehood. Their collection covers over 5,000 years of Mesopotamian history.

Mukhosh: Masks of Bengal

On By Indrajit Roy ChoudhuryIn Airports & Flights, Folk art & culture, India18 Comments

I was travelling to Ranchi from Kolkata. I saw traditional Bengali masks were being displayed at the departure terminal of the Kolkata airport. It’s a nice way to promote the ancient craft of mask-making in Bengal. Throughout the world, masks are used for their expressive power as a feature of masked performance — both ritually and in various theatre traditions.