In 2022 I was commissioned to create 3 identical masks for Prize of Hope. This is a prestigious award given annually by Dell’Arte International and Aasen Teater, the Danish Institute for Popular Theater in Brødholtvej, Denmark. The 2022 Prize of Hope was awarded to the Zimbabwe Theater Academy. The evening festivities included a performance of the 2-person play, “Zandezi,” created and performed by Cadrick Msongwlwa and Ronald Sigeca from Zimbabwe.
The concept for the mask was the result of viewing videos, reading the script and working through 50 sketches before presenting this concept to Dell’Arte International for approval. After the clay came a mold and castings for 3 masks.
I began the commission by viewing videos of the performance, reading the script, researching Zimbabwean mask styles and then producing about 50 sketches. After sharing my concept with Dell’Arte CEO. I shaped the original mask in clay, created a silicon mold and cast three masks which were then painted. One mask was awarded to the group from Zimbabwe, one went to Denmark and the third is now in the Dell’Arte International collection.
Dell’Arte Institute and the Danish Institute of Popular Theater focus on physical theater, a genre of theatrical performance that encompasses storytelling primarily through physical movement. In Zimbabwe, where 14 languages are spoken, the language of motion connects all.
Dell’Arte has been offering the Prize of Hope with the Danish Institute of Popular Theater since 2008. Past recipients include Cornerstone Theater (2016), Tim Robbins & the Actor’s Gang (2008), and many more!
My connection to Dell’Arte came through Tony Fuemeller, a master mask maker, actor, puppeteer, director and instructor. Many thanks for the introduction!
The Prize of Hope, 2022 was a commissioned mask depicting two figures whose heads are the eyes of the mask. Two additional figures rising above their predicament appear in the forehead of the mask. Final masks were cast in lightweight polymer/plaster mix and painted with acrylic paint.