JAPANESE TRADITIONAL ARTS

                                                          MASK-'NOH'

‘Noh’ to put it simply is a kind of mask dance. Though the correct definition would be that Noh is a kind of music theatre in which the leading actor is adorned with costume of silk and a wooden mask.

Noh masks are lacquered wooden masks that depict characters like an old man, an old woman, a ghost or a divine figure. Noh masks as they’re known to the outside world are very expensive.Somebody gifted us one of these masks once in Tokyo and I was really attracted to the calm expression that mask depicted.

 Noh involves music (‘utai’) as well as musical accompaniment i.e. ‘hayashi’. But it is also accompanied by dances. Singing, dance and music unite with the dialogues in telling a story in Noh. Whenever I look at masks I am reminded of our lives.

Life is a stage… I feel all are wearing masks and pretend to be someone else. All wear different masks for different people. A person is forced to play different characters and has various masks-one for the work environment, one for personal life etc.

According to me, what's dangerous is when people get so absorbed in playing their parts or characters that they forget themselves and actually start believing in being what they are playing or pretending to be…They actually lose their true identity then. It is sad that their true self can never be revealed like this...As time goes by the mask becomes you. You also become a mirror then...as in you start reflecting others. You show people what they want to see in you...In a way you start entertaining them...This is when you have to stop...

There are some who have the courage to show their true self but are not accepted... The world does not have the courage to accept such people for their true self. The world always wants you to play a part or act…In the process, enacting a character leads you to actually become that character…