Mask Exhibition “Faces of Youth” Opened in Regional Center

By: Anastasia Temmo   

Exhibition “Faces of Youth” opened in Small Hall of Town Exhibition Center. Masks made by students from Russia, USA, Kenya and South Africa are the main part of it.     

It is not a beauty salon. It is mask-making master class given by Mark Scheflen during the exhibition opening. In 15 minutes mask of Nastia Diomkina’s face was ready. It wasn’t first mask-making experience for this girl. Nastia goes to the First University Gymnasium which takes part in this unusual project helping children to express themselves. Teenagers can paint on mask any of thoughts and feelings important to them.

It is unlikely that mask gallery will leave visitors indifferent. You can see how much information contains every portrait by looking at signs and symbols depicted on masks and reading comments by teenagers from Kenya, America and Russia. For instance one of the masks reflects sorrow of the boy who was mistakenly convicted. Someone wants to be fashion designer, someone worries about environment pollution.

Masks of African tribes represent special part of the exhibition. Mark Scheflen decided to make project “Faces of Youth” when he saw the freedom masks gave to African people when they were telling their rough stories. The project “Faces of Youth” is more that mask-making. Twice a week participants from different countries take part in web-conferences via Internet. They discuss diverse issues such as global warming, corruption and issues that affect youth in adverse ways. And key word for these conversation is “Kiboko”.