Balinese Masks, Divinity and Spiritual Energy

It is impossible not to admire the complex and fantastical Balinese masks with their infinite variety of forms and colours, a must-have souvenir from a journey to Bali. Their meaning finds its roots in the local religion. Used, above all, in sacred dances, the masks represent the place in which the spirits dwell, the energy and divine beings present in all things. The dances are based around traditional Hindu stories and the masks, protagonists of sacred tales, play a fundamental role. The dancers who wear them must also undergo purification rituals before donning them. The carvers of the masks are called Undagi Tapel and must be part of the Brahman caste whose members know the necessary rituals for creating a sacred mask. Not all the masks, however, have a religious function and some are created for simple decorative purposes. The drawings that characterise them can depict human faces, divinities, animals and, above all, supernatural beings, but they also depict emotions like anger, calm and even falling in love. Balinese masks can take as long as two months to craft, representing nothing less than the history of an entire people.