Intrigue on gallery walls | Auckland Lifestyle News | Health, Fashion, Food and Wine in Auckland

Exhibitionists are enthusiastically lining up to join a show of maskmaking, reports Sharu Delilkan.

The organiser of Masquerade - Elements of Disguise was pleasantly surprised by people's keenness to devise and show the masks they'd made.

"I initially panicked about how many masks we were going to receive," says Ellen Kerssens, by trade a video producer/editor who usually works on corporate events. "It was amazing how many people either shared the passion or had personal collections. In fact, we've probably received enough to have three exhibitions."

Masquerade - Elements of Disguise brings together masks made at a recent workshop at Titirangi's Lopdell Studio, plus those from private collections. These include masks by Sean Hurst (film industry fabricator), Iona Matheson (local artist ), Joyce Taylor (local artist) and Peter van Rooyen (craftsman-patternmaker).

While backpacking in Europe in the early 1980s, Kerssens became fascinated by the traditional carnival masks of Venice which are highly decorative.

Helping with face painting at this year's NZ Masquerade Ball stirred her interest enough for her to take up making masks. Four of the 80-plus masks in the show are her work.

The first, Zephyr, is crafted from very fine paper pulp with raised swirls and painted shapes on it representing the wind. Two others, in papier mache, lace and sequins, display the Venetian carnivalesque style that Kerssens loves.

"It's been an interesting creative journey for me. I have really enjoyed getting my hands dirty, which is such a contrast from the clinical digital world that I work in. It's been great thinking outside the box."

Masquerade - Elements of Disguise, Upstairs Gallery, Lopdell House, 418 Titirangi Rd, Titirangi, until Aug 29. Contact: ph 817 8087. Proceeds to benefit Manukau Volunteer Coastguard and Titirangi RSA Youth Programme.