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Go Behind the Scenes of Our Newest Exhibition ‘Becoming Another: The Power of Masks’

Our exhibition of visually arresting ritual, shamanistic, and theatrical masks from around the world opens this Friday, March 13. Titled “Becoming Another: The Power of Masks,” the show will feature nearly 100 masks from the 15th–20th centuries, along with a selection of stunning costumes and ceremonial garments. Among the many highlights of this exhibition are a 19th century Tlingit mask of a bear or land otter that would have been used by a shaman of the Northwest Coast of America to connect with animal spirits and a Bhutanese theatrical mask of Padmasambhava depicted as Nyima Oze, one of his eight manifestations.

Presently, our Collections Management team is hard at work installing these artworks in our galleries. Below, enjoy a sneak peek of the installation process!

Wearing protective gloves, our team unpacks masks from their heavily padded crates.
Wearing protective gloves, our team unpacks masks from their heavily padded crates.
A 20th=century mask of Padmasambhava as Nyima Ozer on loan from the Bruce Miller Collection.
A 20th-century mask of Padmasambhava as Nyima Ozer on loan from the Bruce Miller Collection.
Installation of an Edo-period Ofuku mask from the collection of the Newark Museum.
Installation of an Edo-period Ofuku mask from the collection of the Newark Museum.
"A little to the left!" Our team maps out the placement of a selection of masks.
“A little to the left!” Our team maps out the placement of a selection of masks.
Bhutanese masks of Astara, a joker (left), and Apa Monpa (right) were among the first works to be mounted. Both pieces are from the Bruce Miller Collection.
Bhutanese masks of Astara, a joker (left), and Apa (right) were among the first works to be mounted. Both pieces are on loan from the Bruce Miller Collection.

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