“BIRDS”

This week I m trying to make a mask inspired by the “Birds” of Aristophanes. It is the first time that I’m constructing the shape of a mask by clay, and it is a really interesting process. Following the directions of Val Charlton, I made the shape by clay and then I covered it in cling film. When I assured myself that the clay was airtight, I started putting paper with glue on it, I order to create a papier – maché mask, because as lighter one mask is, the better result we have.
I inspired the mask by birds, but more by the masks of commedia dell’arte, as I wanted to combine the mask of Lazzi, which looks alike a beak, with Aristophanes play.
The main subject of the “Birds” is the decision of two men to leave their society because they cannot stand the problems that it faces, and the behavior of the citizens. They decide to relocate in a society where the birds live. The play has so many subjects, in which I am interested. First of all, the idea of living in a society in clouds, where the citizens are birds, it is something that transfer both the hero of the play, and the audience who watch the performance, in another reality. They achieve to travel with their imagination in an other world, where different rules and laws exist.
I will write down my first approach on the play:
I was thinking of an installation, which will de presented in parts, as I want to show a development on the topic. The first idea was to create this mask and to place it behind a door, which will have on the top a glassy window. So, the audience could see the mask behind this window. In the second stage, the audience see the back of the door and of the mask. With instruction, one by one could wear the mask and look through the window, where they see puppets which are looking towards to the mask.
This I want to achieve is to transfer the audience in position of the heros’ of the play. At first, they are down on the earth, and they are looking towards to the mask. They live a normal life in a regular society, facing the problems that every common people faces. The mask on the window is looking down at them, and at the same time, the audience see a mask. But this mask is a symbol of an other world, in which the audience is called to join it. When the audience wear this mask, and see down, they have transferred in mask’s world.
But what is this world? It is different, but, it is better? And, if it is, how can I show this? I m thinking to make a video where I will show scenes of people who are trying to make their life better. I want to show the effort that people are doing, in order to make a step forward in life.
That was just a first approach in the “Birds”..