ARTIST STATEMENT
The interconnection between culture and the modern era has removed the authenticity of significant traditions and practices within a culture. Remembrance socially comments on cultural significance by drawing upon traditions from the Filipino MassKara festival and the customs of the Indigenous Yakan tribe. With both joyous traditions contrasting from its embedded darker meaning explored further in the film, Remembrance aims to remind audiences of their own heritage rather than losing themselves in western media.
ARTWORK PROCESS
By researching the Masskara festival and the Tanyak Tanyak traditions from the Philippines, I was inspired to make a mask as a cultural symbol that incorporated similar visual language. I cut out shapes using card, drew on a traditional Yakan motifs before embellishing with decorative elements. Once I made the mask, I created a film of one of my peers wearing the costume, purposefully juxtaposing her against mundane, grey, empty settings. I spent time editing the film to create consistency across all the shots and arranged the clips in a rhythmic sequence with natural sounds to accompany.
