Mask vs Mask, released on the streets: 30/10/2011
Photo size: 24 x 30 cm
Such as the first abandoned photo, Mask vs Mask photo is part of my lucha libre (wrestiling) portfolio. Interestingly I didn’t take this photo in México, I did it in Brussels! Two years ago there was a lucha libre show there; that show was part of series of Mexican culture exhibitions done in the frame of the Bicentennial of Mexican Independence and the Centennial of the Mexican Revolution Celebration. At that time, las luchas were in tour around the world for visiting countries having Mexican communities. Therefore, las luchas tour visited Belgium and they presented in a concert hall in Brussels. So, I was in that place and I must say the atmosphere in the concert hall was as similar as the atmosphere in a luchas arena in México. It wasn’t strange taking into account there were many Mexicans watching the show, but I must say all people, not only the Mexican ones, were caught by the energy of the luchas and the luchadores (wrestlers). However, there was a particular difference between the luchas in the hall concert and luchas in the arena-the lighting. In the hall concert there was a warm lighting while every time I was in an Mexican arena there was a cold lighting. Hence because of the warm lighting I got photos that look very theatrical; the second abandoned photography is a good example of that.
"Mask vs Mask" photo is also a good example showing the importance of the mask in the Mexican luchas. The luchadores have either a mask or long hair as personal sign. In the case of the hair, it's a symbol of strength I think it's related to the symbolism of the Samson's hair. It should be remained Samson was an unbeatable man and its strength was given by his long hair. In the case of the mask, it represents a symbolic object covering the face −the identity− of the luchador. Wearing a mask is having the honor of being a masked wrestler because a mask chooses the man, isn’t the man who chooses the mask. As example, in the Santo myth the mask pass from father to son and the mask wearer has to ennoble the silver mask. People loving masked wrestlers love the character; they love the mask, the mystery behind the mask. Wearing mask in luchas is an original characteristic of the Mexican modern wrestling and that peculiarity has existed for more than 60 years. Isn’t easy to explain the reason why masks are used in Mexican luchas, but hyphoteses have been suggested. For instance, wearing mask has been related to Prehispanic rituals which men used anthropomorphic masks. To this respect, design of Mexican luchas masks have been correlated to Prehispanic sculptures, such is the case of the Blue Demon mask.
Because of the importance of the mask, masked wrestlers have to wear the mask any time, but especially during the lucha. Hence put-off a mask of a wrestler is an offense and aggression. In fact, when rivalry exists between masked wresters (or between a long hair and a masked wrestler), it can be done a lucha, Mask vs Mask, for putting-off the mask of the looser. If an enmascarado (masked wrestler) lose its mask, he will be humiliated in front of the public. Losing the mask can be the end of the wrestler career. That's the reason why “Mask vs Mask” is a photo showing a stressful moment, a decisive moment in the luchas. Will he lose his mask?
"Mask vs Mask" photo is also a good example showing the importance of the mask in the Mexican luchas. The luchadores have either a mask or long hair as personal sign. In the case of the hair, it's a symbol of strength I think it's related to the symbolism of the Samson's hair. It should be remained Samson was an unbeatable man and its strength was given by his long hair. In the case of the mask, it represents a symbolic object covering the face −the identity− of the luchador. Wearing a mask is having the honor of being a masked wrestler because a mask chooses the man, isn’t the man who chooses the mask. As example, in the Santo myth the mask pass from father to son and the mask wearer has to ennoble the silver mask. People loving masked wrestlers love the character; they love the mask, the mystery behind the mask. Wearing mask in luchas is an original characteristic of the Mexican modern wrestling and that peculiarity has existed for more than 60 years. Isn’t easy to explain the reason why masks are used in Mexican luchas, but hyphoteses have been suggested. For instance, wearing mask has been related to Prehispanic rituals which men used anthropomorphic masks. To this respect, design of Mexican luchas masks have been correlated to Prehispanic sculptures, such is the case of the Blue Demon mask.
Because of the importance of the mask, masked wrestlers have to wear the mask any time, but especially during the lucha. Hence put-off a mask of a wrestler is an offense and aggression. In fact, when rivalry exists between masked wresters (or between a long hair and a masked wrestler), it can be done a lucha, Mask vs Mask, for putting-off the mask of the looser. If an enmascarado (masked wrestler) lose its mask, he will be humiliated in front of the public. Losing the mask can be the end of the wrestler career. That's the reason why “Mask vs Mask” is a photo showing a stressful moment, a decisive moment in the luchas. Will he lose his mask?
En promenade à Bruxelles, nous sommes français originaires de Mâcon, en Bourgogne. Après avoir été au belvédère devant le Palais de Justice, nous sommes redescendus et notre oeil a été attiré par une "photo abandonnée". Etonné, surpris, nous avons lu le texte au dos et compris le sens de cette action - sympathique et inhabituelle... Au départ, mon amie a pris peur par la violence dégagée de cette photo, puis a été séduite par la qualité de la photo...
ReplyDeletewe were walking in Brussel, we are french tourists from Mâcon in Burgundy. We've been first to the belvedere in front of the courthouse, and we went down when the "abandonned photo" drew us... Surprised, we read the tetxe in the back and understood the idea of this action - pleasant and unusual. At the beginning, my friend was quiet in shock by this picture, because of the violence who come from it but then she was seduced by the quality of it...
ReplyDeleteThank you Nino C.C.for this gesture. All the best all around the word. Can't wait to find an other photo in an other place, in an other country....
Great! The second abandoned photo was founded on a street of Brussels! Of course I left it there! Thanks a lot Mr. Anonymus for tell me about the finding. I'm very glad of knowing you and your friend like the photo; thanks a lot for being part of this project and for your nice comments. It's true the photo shows a violent moment, however, it's part of the luchas and it's part of the show. It's, I would say, a no totally real violence.
ReplyDeleteGénial! La deuxième photo abandonné a été trouvé en un rue de Bruxelles! Bon oui, j' ai déposé la photo la-bas! Un grand merci Anonymus pour me raconter que vous avez trouvé la photo. Je suis très content de savoir que vous et votre amie aimez bien la photo! Merci pour être parti de ce project et pour votre très gentil commentaire. C'est vrai, la photo est une image violente mais las luchas sont comme ca, il y a une peu de violence mais il y a aussi une peu de représentation. C'est, pour moi, pas une vrai violence.
ReplyDelete