The ‘doctor’ bird mask follows the shape worn by plague doctors in medieval Europe, and the Commedia dell’Arte stock character – representing foolish knowledge. This is nearly finished now, covered with chopped up computer waste (which resisted said chopping up more than expected) and glass mosaic tiles.
The bird mask in the medieval European tradition is a sinister reminder of mortality – plague doctors wore beaked masks stuffed with herbs to fight off infection. In Commedia dell’Arte theatre the character who wore this mask, Il Dattore, exemplified the pompous faux scholar, talking in bad Latin and taking on completely unjustified airs and graces.
Trying out a couple of mask shapes in minature (paperclay)
