Since the dissolution of tribes in the Western world, we’ve shelved the masks we once used in religious rites, celebrations, and war, limiting their usage to Halloween or the occasional masquerade. Yet, in Masks for the Modern Tribe, artist Jud Wimhurst reimagines their meaning, exploring the effects of branding and consumption on modern identity. The contemporary masks he envisions are adorned with familiar iconography from companies such as McDonald’s and Chanel, defining individuals in terms of their purchases. After the jump, check out Wimhurst’s work, and then head over to the Melbourne Arts Room gallery to see more of his sculptures.
Jud Wimhurst, Schandemask
Jud Wimhurst, Breakfast Club: Egg on Face
Jud Wimhurst, Cagey
Jud Wimhurst, Enjoy Copyright
Jud Wimhurst, Big Macsquarade Mask
Jud Wimhurst, Rites of Passage
Jud Wimhurst, blingblingbling
Jud Wimhurst, Swallows
Jud Wimhurst, Avatar 1.0 with Anti-virus Protection
All images via Melbourne Art Rooms.