The Mask: A Synchronicity

A Maschera photographed by PJ Trenton

I was fortunate enough to be informed about this performance piece, originally created for the Museo del Metaverso as part of their art and poetry project. Fortunate as it will only be run for another 12 hours (or perhaps even over tonight). Originally performed September 29 – October 2, 2011 at Ile Moya, it was also broadcast into the physical world at Centre d´art la Malmaison in Cannes, France and at  La Teatro Libre in Bogota, Colombia.

Originally conceived and developed by the trio of Jo Ellsmere, Pyewacket Kazyanenko and Montoyakai Steamer, it is based on a Neapolitan poem by Carmen Auletta (Margye Riba in Second Life). A beautiful melding of poetry, dance and music; it is a feast for all the senses as three differently attired, but similarly sized avatars move and sway, diverge and combine to occasionally appear as a single avatar.

‘A Maschera – Carmen Auletta

Oggi me sento proprio ‘na munnezza,
vulesse almeno fà quaccosa ‘e bbuono,
però si ‘o ffaccio vene na schifezzae
me rummane sempe nu magone.

Vulesse stà nu poco cchiù cuntenta
ma faccio sulo finta ca sto’ bbona
cercanno ‘e fà felice ‘a tutte quante,
dico ‘e bbuscìe e nisciuno se n’addona.

E mò capisco pecchè ‘o clown se mette
‘a faccia bianca ‘e gesso e fa ‘o pagliaccio
ma tene ‘na tristezza ca ‘o fa a fette
e ‘ncuorpo chiagne e ‘a fora pare ‘e ghiaccio.

The translated poem is presented below…

The Mask by Carmen Auletta

Today I am just picking up dust.
O, to do even a bit of good! But
Everything I try turns to rust -
And a pit remains in my gut.

If only I could be of higher cheer!
Instead, I pretend I’m fine,
I try to make happy all far and near -
And no one can tell when I lie.

Now I understand why the clown goes
With painted face and smile all nice,
Even though he’s sad, from his neck to toes -
And inside he cries – just the outside is ice.

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One of things I found fascinating about this piece while preparing this posting was that it has also been broadcast on two occassions into the physical world.

I caught this performance at the Odyssey sim. As previously mentioned, it will only be performed for a few more hours, so be sure to take the opportunity to enjoy it while you can. It can be found at Odyssey (slur) where you will see a teleport to the performance space high above the ground. You will receive a few notecards to enhance your viewing pleasure, including recommendations of the [Euphoria - monochrome] windlight setting.

Additional photographs may be found in a Flickr set I have created.

How many masks do you wear?