ABOUT THIS PROJECT

The hannya mask is a traditional Japanese theater mask representing a jealous female demon. Its origins date back to the Noh and Kabuki theater traditions of the 14th century, where it was used to symbolize intense negative emotions such as jealousy and vengeance.

The mask has evolved over time, with different variations and interpretations in various forms of Japanese art and culture.

Today, it is still widely recognized and used in various artistic forms, including theater, dance, and tattoos, as a symbol of transformation and the complexities of human emotions.

Hannya masks are a common feature in Japanese Noh performances, symbolizing female demons or vengeful spirits like Lady Rokujō from "The Tale of Genji".
The masks are used to express a variety of emotions and convey the essence of the character being depicted in the play.

The author and photographer of this book has put a high emphasis on the different light settings that is also used in the noh performances to create the illusion of different moods that the character has to display in different scenes of the different acts, whether it be sad, angry, furious, vengeful or malicious.

The different collors used for the masks are not all strictly those painted classically, rather more playful and colorful variants that is used more freely in art such as tattooing as this book aimS foremost at being a reference inspiration for tattoo artists and other illustrators, etc.

Filters have been used to enhance or detract the reflections of the metal parts (teeth and eyes) of the different masks.

Nicklas Westin