In the age of social media, we are constantly uploading pictures of ourselves for the world to see. We use filters that alter and allow us to control our image and its perception. Do these alterations create a mask concealing our true selves or do these changes allow us to more fully express our identities?

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Unveiled explores the use of masks and facial distortion as a means of personal expression in identity, activism, and ceremonial tradition. The exhibition features historical and contemporary masks, paintings, film, and photographs, and exclusive downloadable Instagram filters.

 

Carl Beazley’s portraits of distorted faces reveal emotions expressed by the individual in the painting which are usually kept hidden beneath a friendly smile. Freyja Sewell’s tribute to Key Workers during the Covid-19 pandemic exemplifies how creativity can change a mask into a movement. From Japanese Noh masks, used in theatre to identify characters, to modern-day Instagram filters, this exhibition explores the relationship between revealing and concealing the self through masks, prints, paintings, film, and interactive filters.

 

In collaboration with the Beaney for the first time, Unveiled is curated by the University of Kent MA Curating programme.