Cultural Origins of Masks

Meet ASEAN countries' masks through a collaborative exhibition of KF ASEAN Culture House and UNESCO ICHCAP, 'Alternative Identities: Masks of ASEAN and Korea'

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Alternative Identities: Masks of ASEAN and Korea (2023)ICHCAP

Jointly held by KF ASEAN Culture House and UNESCO ICHCAP, the exhibition Alternative Identities: Masks of ASEAN and Korea introduces "other faces" created under the theme of “Mask”, the cultural heritage of humanity.

The masks of Korea and ASEAN, which encompass the accumulated aesthetic sense and techniques of handicrafts in each region, can be said to reflect aesthetic traditions in different epochs of each country.

Alternative Identities: Masks of ASEAN and Korea_08 (2023)ICHCAP

Section 1. Origin of Masks

Humans have created animal-like masks to pray for successful hunting or magical masks to wish for good harvests since ancient times.

Alternative Identities: Masks of ASEAN and Korea_08 (2023)ICHCAP

ASEAN masks have been created for various purposes such as ritual masks for expelling evil and disease and praying for a rich and happy life, as well as masks for performance in plays and other entertainment forms.

Phi Ta KhonICHCAP

Phi Ta Khon

Phi Ta Khon is a three-day mask festival held every year between March and July in Dan Sai District in Loei Province, Thailand.

Phi Ta KhonICHCAP

Phi Ta Khon includes a ceremony to express respect to the gods as well as rituals to protect the village and to pray for abundant rain during the farming season.

Nyar NyerICHCAP

Masks at the Luang Prabang New Year Ceremony

On the second day of the Lao New Year festival Pi Mai Lao, a traditional Lao mask dance that can only be seen in Luang Prabang (Lao PDR) is performed. 

Pou NyerICHCAP

Pou Nyer symbolizing men, Nyar Nyer symbolizing women, and their lion cub Singkeo-Singkham are the focal point of the Lao New Year ceremonies in Luang Prabang.

Singkeo-SingkhamICHCAP

Both Pou Nyer and Nyar Nyer are considered ancestral gods and guardians by the Lao people. 

Big Lion Head and Body (2023) by Hoang ChoongICHCAP

The Lion Dance of the Tày and Nùng of Lang Son City

The Lion Dance of the Tày and Nùng of Lang Son City, Viet Nam, is usually performed during New Year celebrations. Villagers wearing lion masks perform dances to wish for a prosperous life and to ward off evil. 

Small Monkey Masks for Interactions (2023) by Hoang ChoongICHCAP

The lion dance has become an important part of the cultural identity of the Tay and Nung communities by combining local cultural elements, traditional martial arts, and folk dances through migration and cultural exchange between ethnic groups in the border region.

Awang Batil

Awang Batil is a storyteller only found in the state of Perlis (Malaysia). He narrates a story by tapping a Batil (copper water container). His performances are predominantly held in homes during wedding feasts and can sometimes span several days.

Topeng Hulubalang (Hulubalang’s Mask) (2023) by Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture Malaysia (MOTAC)ICHCAP

Throughout Awang Batil's narration, he wears two masks representing the characters of a 'Hulubalang' (soldier) and the 'Wak Nujum' (fortune teller). These masks, typically made of wood and painted in red and white, add depth to his storytelling.

Batil, Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture Malaysia (MOTAC), 2023, From the collection of: ICHCAP
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Serunai (Flute), Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture Malaysia (MOTAC), 2023, From the collection of: ICHCAP
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Topeng Wak Nujum (Wak Nujum’s Mask), Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture Malaysia (MOTAC), 2023, From the collection of: ICHCAP
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Xuan Pha Masked Performance

The Xuan Pha performance is a Vietnamese folk tradition held every lunar February in Xuan Pha village. It serves as a blessing to the people and expresses gratitude to the guardian deity who watches over farming activities.

Tu Huan MaskICHCAP

Legend has it that Dinh Bo Linh achieved peace with the help of the deity Xuan Pha when chieftains were trying to divide the country. This became the origin of the village festival.

Hoa Lang White Horse Costume, From the collection of: ICHCAP
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Hoa Lang Hat, From the collection of: ICHCAP
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Bamboo Clappers, From the collection of: ICHCAP
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Chiem Thanh Mask and Horn Hat, From the collection of: ICHCAP
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Hoa Lang Mask and Hat, From the collection of: ICHCAP
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Continue to explore more about ASEAN masks here in section 2 and here in section 3 and 4. Learn about Talchum, the Korean mask dance, here in section 5 of the exhibition.

Credits: Story

2023 Collaborative Exhibition
Alternative Identities: Masks of ASEAN and Korea (April 26, 2023 - July 23, 2023)

Organized by: Korea Foundation ASEAN Culture House; UNESCO ICHCAP
Sponsored by: Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Cultural Heritage Administration; International Mask Arts & Culture OrganizationCooperation: Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture of Malaysia; Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts of Cambodia; Center for Research and Promotion of Cultural Heritage in Viet Nam; Thammasat University in Thailand

Credits: All media
The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views of the institutions, listed below, who have supplied the content.