Ivy Mask 4

The movement blur on the right arm was accidental, but it has turned this into one of my favourites from the “Ivy Mask” series. I’m tempted to do more photographs with deliberate movement blur now.

About the Ivy Mask series

The “Ivy Mask” photographs are a slight departure from my recent artwork where I’ve been working with existing mythological characters. While ivy is mentioned in various mythologies, and was symbolically connected with Dionysus/Bacchus, I know of no actual mythological character embodying or representing it, although obviously there may have been many ivy deities whose stories have been lost. As such this character is my own invention.

The mask was made using a blank Venetian Volto-style mask, painted then adorned with fake ivy. More fake ivy was then used to drape the model, imitating the way that ivy grows up trees.