Mask Making.
Mask Making.
Masks played an integral role in shaping identity, with each one uniquely crafted for every participant involved in the songwriting and performance. They served as a visual expression of individual stories and creative voices, allowing each person to convey their identity in ways that extended beyond the lyrics.
Mask making was introduced as the first visual creative workshop, led by fine artist Michelle Gumbo. Each student decided to chose a flower to represent their identity, transforming it into a mask that would appear in the final video.
Using latex and natural materials, students translated their ideas of identity into visual masks—each one acting as a signifier within the song, directly connected to its lyrics and personal narratives. The process was explored in the university’s makerspace, where, with Michelle’s advice and technical knowledge, students experimented freely to create an iconic and truly diverse range of personality-driven outcomes.
Mask-making is a powerful element this music video project because it gives visual form to the journey between concealment and self-acceptance. In a narrative shaped by spring, a season of growth, renewal, and emergence, masks can symbolise the layers people wear to navigate the world, from protection and performance to transformation.
By wearing these bespoke masks, the performers brought their own narratives to the forefront, making the music video not only a celebration of collaboration but also a vibrant showcase of the diversity and uniqueness of every contributor.
As the video unfolds, the act of wearing, altering, or removing a mask can mirror the process of owning one’s identity, allowing characters to move from hiding to visibility on their own terms.
