My identity mask shows aspects of myself and my life represented by a mask. There are many aspects of myself such as headphones because I listen to a lot of music, and eye bags because I never go to sleep on time due to saving my schoolwork for the last second. There are post it’s all over because I am extremely forgetful and scatterbrained so I have to have constant reminders for myself. The brain shows what I think inside my head.
The purpose of the identity mask was to use art, which for many years was something considered exclusive to the upper class, as a way of reflecting upon myself, and seeing that art in its most basic form, is truly not exclusive to any class. There is importance in reflecting upon oneself, in order to understand where your strengths and weaknesses lie, and one of the best ways to explore that is through art.
How did completing your project help you explore the role of arts in the lives of New Yorkers and their communities?
This made me reflective of how living in a city such as New York, we are surrounded by art and artists, and while many don't practice art, it is a good place to draw inspiration from. Furthermore, in reflecting upon oneself using art, someone can get to know themselves and their creative interests better. If this is something they choose to utilize in order to bring art and creativity into their community, it is even more beneficial.
