1999 Miao Li International Mask Festival
Taiwan

In the 1999 Miao Li International Mask Festival, Asia, Pacific, and African masks play an important role. Here a short introduction to the mask cultures is given. At the festival, it is our wish that you will enjoy the diverse mask arts. Moreover, by seeing a person in performance with the masks, or the craft of making masks, you will appreciate these brilliant cultures.

Group Photo National Palace Museum Taipei, Taiwan

Miao Li International Mask Festival
Asia Gallery - Sri Lanka

By its geographical location and the ethnic origin of its inhabitants, Sri Lanka is culturally influences by the overarching traditions in South Asia generally. The masks are used in ritual exorcism and dance drama. Masks represent different disease, spirit or deity, and folk drama character.

The masks of Sri Lanka are an integral part of the country’s rich and ancient folk traditions. Unfortunately these fell into decay due to the civil war in recent years.

Performance by International Artists
Salvin Silva, Sri Lanka

Salvin Silva represents the community of Sinhalese dance performers for exorcism and entertainment. He is an artisan to demonstrate the local Sinhalese mask carving. His hometown is Dondra at the most southern point of Sri Lanka, famous for pilgrimage to the guardian shrine of the southern sea (Indian Ocean). There are some masks in this festival of his majestic work. His masks are functionally used in the local shrine processions and for exorcism in the rural area. His masterpieces include not only Sinhalese traditional forms but are also innovative. For sharing intercultural mask carving experience and dance, Mr. Silva was invited to participate in the festival.

International Mask Ensemble Performance
Southern Sri Lanka Cultural Ensemble

The “Southern Sri Lanka cultural Ensemble” gathered some well-known exorcists (gurunnanse) living in the coastal area to perform in the festival. Their folk craft and cultural activities have contributed much to the preservation of the traditional arts.

Exorcism plays a role of importance in the folk medical belief system, like chi-tong in the rural peasant community of Taiwan. The folk role of the exorcist is usually handed down from father to his son, or from teacher to disciple. In the low-country dance, the exorcist will put on his mask and practice ritual along with the drum beating. Low-country dnace, mask and drumming are inseparable. Actually, the exorcist is a folk artisan, good at dancing, drumming and mask carving.