Added: 11/15/2005 |
Venice carnival and carnival masks galleryPeople wear masks for amusement, deception or protection. Usually, masks transform the wearers by giving them a new appearance; however, their deeper significance has always varied greatly between different cultures and periods.
Changing the face explores some of these differences. It includes masks, worn by the living and by the dead, masks that were used for entertainment and the others that had a role in ritual. There is a mask that gave animal-like qualities to human beings and the one, which gave human qualities to vegetables.
Masks also illustrate the ways, in which the human face has been represented - generic or specific, abstract or realistic, idealized and absurd. Therefore, changing the face raises questions about how people portray themselves and how they choose to reveal or conceal their identities.
Venice is one of the most famous cities all over the world for its annual carnival and surely for decorative masks and carnival masks gallery. The Carnival in Venice is said to have originated from an important victory of the "Repubblica della Serenissima" (the name of Venezia in those times), in the war against Ulrico, Patriarch of Aquileia, in the year of 1162. To celebrate this victory, dances and reunions started to take place in the San Marco square. Certainly, it was usual in those times and due to the multicultural character of Venice, magicians and the others joined the fun: some for business, some for fun only.
It is more than only a Carnival. The music of Vivaldi, masks, beautiful and mysterious women, craziness and treason are all together.
Some of the masks we see walking around in Venice are typical, more famous masks, which lived through centuries in the fantasy and tradition of the Carnival of Venice. The other masks did not become so famous, or were not used for impersonations by the Commedia dell'Arte, however, still are fascinating and alive in the art and memories.
Browsing through them is like walking in narrow streets of a foggy Venice of the 14th century. Everybody disguised, people laughing, chatting; a glass of wine here, a dance there- the Carnival in Venice, this is what it was.
In modern times, the same disguised people will also welcome you as you pass by, and you will be impressed by the carnival masks gallery of the Rialto Bridge or Campo Santa Margherita. While walking down Venice streets, you will be astonished by the number of small shops, full of masks, correspondent to the very exquisite taste. These small shops seem to be a sort of carnival masks gallery.
The main feature of the of carnival masks gallery is the masks of la Commedia dell'Arte, which literally means "Artistic Comedy", probably named as a contraposition to the standard way of making the theater in that period. Here is the exact opposite: loud, colorful representations blossomed everywhere in Italy, and the rules of the theater are subverted. The most famous masks are Arlecchino, Pantalone, Il Capitano, Nascone, Pulcinella, Neutra and Cirano.
Visiting the Venice Carnival, do not forget to take your camera and take all the fun and memories with you... for life.
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