IV. Degrees of Dimensionality - Alter Ego Mask project

In class we created stories and masks representing our "alter-ego". My alter ego was a Mexican wrestler named "El Judeo Jr". Here is his backstory.

Little is known of El Judeo Jr’s life outside of the lucha libre ring. A reclusive, devout orthodox Jew, El Judeo Jr leads a life of unwavering discipline. He resents the fame and notoriety that comes with being a celebrated luchador in Mexico City, believing such things to be roadblocks on his path to retribution. On October 2, 1989, El Judeo, our hero’s father, was famously unmasked after facing defeat to a young unknown by the name of El Fantasma de Oaxaca (The Ghost from Oaxaca). In the lucha libre world, being unmasked is the ultimate shame for the wrestler and his family, whom he is honor bound to defend. Twenty years later, El Fantasma is entrenched as the most famous, or more appropriately, infamous luchadors of his generation. El Judeo Jr has taken up arms, aided by his sacred mask which legend states was molded and baked by the holy light of Adonai himself. He has vanquished all opponents so far in his quest to avenge his father by defeating and unmasking El Fantasma.

For the Mask, I used a plastic halloween mask as the base. Then I covered it with Super Sculpey, creating relief designs of Jewish symbols. I attached Hassidic payos to the sides using strands of a costume wig. After baking the mask to harden it, I painted it with acrylics.

Progress shot:




Finished Mask: