Artifact: Jade Mask

The main reason I had in choosing a mask as my artifact was because my initial impression was that a mask serves as protection. It envelops and shelters the face from harm. In addition to covering the face, a mask provides a unique ability to see the underlying structure of the face by forming to and responding to the features of the face. I found that there was an interesting correlation between the use of a mask and its relation to the face and the method of construction in Uxmal. The constructs of Uxmal respond to the ground in a way that they almost become part of the ground. The use of a mask serves a similar function but at a scale that is relative to the human face and body.

In Mayan culture, masks were used in a variety of different ways. They were used during burial ceremonies and placed on the face of the dead within their tomb, in celebratory ceremonies, and also in battle. It is unknown what the true purpose of wearing the mask into battle was, whether it was for protection, to simply intimidate the enemy or if it was to have an "ethereal effect." I find it interesting that one particular object could be used for such different purposes. The same object that could be placed on the face of a deceased ruler in a time of mourning could be used to provide entertainment in a time of joy and happiness. Just as the masks served different purposes, they also had many different likenesses. Some of the masks represented earthly beings such as animals while other masks would have the likeness of deities such as Chak, the god of rain.

The particular mask that I selected was made from several pieces of jade. The composition of this mask evokes the thought of the design method of a kit of parts. The mask is made of many different pieces of jade and other materials which separated mean nothing at all. However, when placed together, these pieces of fit together as one entity that molds to the shape and contours of the face. The composition of a construct and even a city can be thought of in a similar way. Individually, the materials used to construct a building such as wood, limestone, etc. may be systems but don't serve much use until they begin to work together. Likewise, a city is composed of many different buildings that all work together to serve the purposes of the occupants whom inhabit it.