Origins of the Hannya and her appearance in my work…
Traditional Hannya mask. The oldest mask is dated 1558.
Izanami Series: War Mask 2, 2018
(photo credit: Jo Cosme)
"The Hannya mask is a mask used in Noh theater, representing a jealous female demon. It possesses two sharp bull-like horns, metallic eyes, and a leering mouth... The Hannya mask portrays the souls of women who have become demons due to obsession or jealousy. It is said to be demonic and dangerous but also sorrowful and tormented, displaying the complexity of human emotions." (wikipedia.org)
My Hannya mask does not serve to hide or demonize, rather it reveals the power of our emotional core. Shielded by an ancient and archetypal smile, I celebrate the tragedy and triumph of modern femininity.
Izanami Seires
This series began in February 2018 when I had an abortion. For me, this very personal experience shed light on a long held collective truth; some of us possess the ability to beckon or deny new life into the world, and current society is both afraid and ashamed of this feminine power. The next day after my surgery, I began this current body of work.
Izanami, meaning, “she who invites,” is the Shinto goddess of creation and death. According to legend, after giving birth to many gods and goddesses, Izanami died while giving birth to fire and was sent down into the underworld. Her husband, stricken with grief, went after her to bring her back but he was too late. While her soul remained her body was ravaged by death. Shocked by what he saw, his longing was replaced by terror and he fled. Upon reaching the surface he sealed the portal with a bolder, leaving Izanami trapped and forever breaking their union. Sealed within the dark walls of the underworld, Izanami’s story in the Shinto pantheon ends here.
Izanami was once a beautiful goddess embodying all that is desirable in the feminine- youth, fertility, and sexual service. Once she entered the underworld, she came to symbolize death, suffering, and mortal decay. This side of her was met with fear and banished from society. Through my work I continue Izanami’s story, embracing the mystical feminine realm in its entirety and celebrating the right to create or destroy what lies within our own underworld.