Fright mask “hudoq”

Object	Fright mask “hudoq”
Culture	Bahau Dayak, Borneo
Time	Around 1920
Dimensions	Height  63 cm
Material	Wood, pigments

This hudoq scare mask is carved from light wood. The ears are plugged in with wooden plugs. Eyes and mouth are carved out of the wooden body, the nose is attached in the front area. White and blue pigments can be seen as colour design. Mouth and eye rim are decorated with red pigments.

These “fright masks” usually represent forest and vegetation gods, which were worn at peasant fertility festivals or attached to the village column.

Sometimes mask dances are held, with one party representing the evil spirits (forest, wilderness, storms) and the other the good gods such as rain and growth gods.

 

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