We’ve a place in our hearts for Japanese masked characters, particularly William Tucci’s ‘Shi’.

William Tucci’s ‘Shi’.

Which was reason enough for us to check out Hidden Faces: The Art of Japanese Masks at the Asian Civilisations Museum (ACM).

We’d read up abit about ‘Noh’ from here prior to the exhibition to get an idea of what we’d actually be looking at.

From ACM‘s website:

“This exhibition is a rare opportunity to marvel at beautiful crafted objects from 22 temple treasuries and museums from all over Japan.”

Here’s some of the exhibits that caught our eye. Pretty interesting description of the masks.

Karuda (Garuda) with costume
20th Century
Nara National Museum

“Garuda was a mythological bird in Indian Hindusism that was adopted as one of the guardians of Buddhism… This mask is very unique with a cockscomb on its head and a sharp beak holding a small ball.”

© Hidden Faces: The Art of Japanese Masks

Enmaten (Yamaraja)
13th Century, Kamakura period
Tokyo National Museum

“This masks represents an elephant with a lotus flower on its head and an extended trunk. It is thought to be the mount for Enmaten or Yamarajai, the Hindu God of Death, guardian of the south and one of the Twenty-Eight Guardians of Shakyamuni.”

© Hidden Faces: The Art of Japanese Masks

Ryo-O
1284, Kamakura period
Atsuta-jingu Shrine, Aichi
Important Cultural Property

“The face, with a dragon on the top, is wrinkled and the eyes are wide open as if to threaten its enemy”

© Hidden Faces: The Art of Japanese Masks

My personal favourite was this mask, which reminded me of the exact expression on the Thai shopowner’s face when I asked for a ridiculous discount, a few weeks back when I visited Bangkok.

Usobuki
18th Century, Edo period
Tokyo National Museum

The tools of this ancient craft.

“Materials and tools for making noh masks”
20th Century
Tsubouchi Memorial Theatre Museum

We especially liked this collection of miniature masks, and thought it would’ve been an excellent collectible to be sold in conjunction with the exhibition.

Hidden Faces: The Art of Japanese Masks is running at the Asian Civilisations Museum from now till 5 November 2006.

All images reproduced with the kind permission of Asian Civilisations Museum

Psst, I’d heard from a friend that the satellite exhibition of Hidden Faces at Bishan Community Library had a poster of a legendary cinematic villain.

Image property of Fortress of Testicular Fortitude