Hi,

Here is my overview about my collection.
Observing the artwork, “World mask” of the artist Christoph Hefti, leads me to the idea of the real world mask in this current time, the face mask. The “World mask” represents diverse cultural aspects of different parts of the world. Therefore, I wonder whether I can turn the normal face mask to become the “world mask”, containing the beauty of the world’s culture.
The face mask has its long history, both in art culture and daily lives. And for the medical purpose, it has mainly used to protect people from pollution and diseases.
In almost Asian countries, the face mask has become a household item. Especially in Japan, the face mask has found its way into the intricate work of Japanese miniature artist Tatsuya Tanaka. The artist combines real-size everyday objects with his 2cm-tall human figures to create amazing art works. The face-mask motif has been repeatingly used as a part of an ongoing Miniature Calendar series since March 2020. The idea of using the real-size everyday object, a face-mask, has strongly inspired the “20” bag on many levels.
Face mask in our current period takes a seriously important role both in social and cultural aspects. It turns its physical usage into a cultural icon, which represents one’s social responsibility and good citizenship , called neoliberal.
Therefore, I want to use “the world’s optimism bias to the face mask” to symbolize the new normal modernity. All the disadvantages of the face mask: barrier gestures, temporary solution, an optimism bias, a target of racist attacks, a visual representation of the thread of the pandemic, now become the “life imitating art”.

Many thanks.