Mexican masks on display at the exhibition Photos: Li Yuting/GT and courtesy of the Consulate General of Mexico in Shanghai

In the ancient Mayan culture, people believed everything in nature was Godlike and that humanity and the animal kingdom were as one. Masks were believed to grant their wearers divine powers and every citizen owned one in order to show his devotion to the culture's gods.

Indigenous people

The cradle of, not only Mayan, but also the Toltec and Aztec civilizations, Mexico boasts a fascinating history, and masks have always played an important role in the development and lives of indigenous people in this North American country.

And a tantalizing glimpse of this incredible history is currently available to culture lovers in Shanghai. The ongoing Faces of Tradition – Mexican Masks from the Muyaes Ogazon Collection is showcasing 48 Mexican masks, selected from more than 3,000 masks collected by the Mexican anthropologist Estela Ogazon and the Chilean-born Jaled Muyaes over the last few decades.

The masks on show are representative of three main groups – demons, animals and people. Mostly made from cork, the masks are painted with flamboyant colors, exaggerated expressions, and delicate ornamentation including horse hairs, ox or goat horns and flowers. All of the exhibits are made by the local Mexican craftsmen, some more than 50 years ago. But although they are relatively modern pieces, these are no mere works of art. Each of these masks was employed in rituals and celebrations in an unbroken tradition of workship that stretches back to the Mayan and Aztec antecedents of modern Mexicans. 

For hundreds of years, masks have become an essential form of expression for Mexicans, as well as reflecting the various facets of life in Mexico. Rather than saying that traditional festivals and celebrations offer a "carnival" for Mexicans, it's more appropriate to regard it as a carnival for the masks. "Though these masks are made of different materials, they have all been used by local Mexicans mainly on occasions such as carnival dancing and religious ceremonies," Lu Jun, a member of staff at the Consulate General of Mexico in Shanghai, told the Global Times.

Horse hair

Among the exhibits, a blue-faced polychrome mask entitled Tastoan (pictured right) stands out because of its figure of Christ embedded on the forehead. With brown long hair – made from horse hair – and the mouth of a pig or dog, the mask would have been worn in the celebration dance of the Tastoan, who were a Mexican tribe.

The mixed religious and cultural elements in such as mask typify the diverse and tolerant nature of this civilization.

The exhibition is being staged by the Shanghai International Culture Association, and is supported by the Consulate General of Mexico in Shanghai. It is also a prelude to the 40th anniversary of  Sino-Mexican diplomatic relations next year.

"Mexico and China both share a rich mask tradition, from ancient ritual masks to modern dances that still use masks as a central element of its magic," said Miguel Barrio, the Consul General of Mexico in Shanghai.

"In sharing an interesting selection of the immense collection of masks gathered by Estela Ogazon and Jaled Muyaes, we aspire to showcase a side of Mexican culture that is rarely seen outside Mexico," said Barrio.

Date: Until November 28,

9 am to 5 pm

Venue: Xuhui Art Museum

徐汇艺术馆

Address: 1413 Huaihai Road Middle

淮海中路1413号

Admission: Free

Call 6433-6516 for details