21.05.11

Lucha Libre

Masking Emotion

I have become a little hypnotized by wrestling over the last couple of years due to my choice of boyfriend. In fact last night I woke to find him creating Macho Man Randy Savage on the Xbox at 2am. No, he’s not 15 years old. While boys salivate over the moves, I can’t help but be drawn in to the characters and costumes. My current favorites are the Mexican wrestlers. I love how they constantly wear their traditional masks, weather in the ring or sat in the audience of an awards ceremony.

My favorite is Rey Mysterio who is always impeccably colour coordinated and in the past has donned Louis Vuitton and Gucci printed masks. I love how I have no idea what the Luchdors look like; I have no judgments on their faces just on their persona and talents.  In Mexican tradition sometimes when a wrestler loses a certain match he is forced to remove his mask, which really is a kick in the teeth as their masks signify pride and a sense of honor, they are sacred.

It’s got me thinking about the idea of masking the face – we use our faces to tell the world how we are feeling, we don’t even need to open our mouths. If you see a smile spread across someone’s face it translates as happiness, tears means sadness or a scrunched up frown and gritting teeth will probably mean you are in trouble. I love the ambiguous nature of mask wearing because from time to time you don’t want people to see your true emotions, but your face can’t help but display them.

Check out the masks above by Russian artist Gabilo, but please don’t partake in any high-flying top rope moves in these or you might be left quite disappointed when you land on your face and demolish a fine piece of art.

Images courtesy of Gabilo.

Posted by Leanne Jay Boulton

Tags: Lucha Libre Wrestling Masks Fashion Mexico Xbox Louis Vuitton