Tindale Masks

When at the Australian Aboriginal Cultures Museum, I came across these 'Tindale Masks'. These were worn for an initiation performance by young Aboriginal men in 1947. 

The names given to these masks, I believe, tend to reflect the vigour and energy of the performances in which they were worn. The material which these masks were made of appear to be a representation of the strength and durability of the boys that were soon to become men. 

The colours and materials used reflect the Aboriginal people's strong association with the land, in the way that they are very organic and the colour palette is quite natural and taken directly from the earth. 

I feel that the shapes and actual subject matter is quite unusual and interesting in comparison to what I have grown up viewing. It shows to me, the way in which different cultures have different interpretations of beauty or fear. It also indicates to me that this must be the way in which the Aboriginal people visualised characters from their dreaming stories. 

From just viewing these masks, I can already begin to imagine the type of dances that would be performed with these masks.

Tindale Masks: Australian Aboriginal Cultures Museum