The mask hides as much as it reveals, “denies as much as it affirms”, as Claude Lévi-Strauss asserted. Very often the holder of a secret, the mask conceals that which only the initiated should know.

The mask’s power also lies in its capacity to incarnate spirits, a link between man and his ancestors, between the visible and the invisible world.  It is inseparable from a mythical context which structures the mode of existence and thought of the majority of traditional societies.

Central to the life of a group or a community, the mask, an indispensable intercessor, is always active.

This mask originates from Papa New Guinea in the village of Hopmagum (north coast) and made in the beginning of the 20th Century. It is made of wood and has traces of pigment. The masks of this region circulate, through exchagnge, between the north coast and the islands. While the forms of reference remain, the length of the nose of the oblique eyes, there is a dynamic stylistic variation in the names, coloured patterns and uses made of these masks from one group to another.

This object is part of "Scan The World". Scan the World is a non-profit initiative introduced by MyMiniFactory, through which we are creating a digital archive of fully 3D printable sculptures, artworks and landmarks from across the globe for the public to access for free. Scan the World is an open source, community effort, if you have interesting items around you and would like to contribute, email stw@myminifactory.com to find out how you can help.