About Poleng Mask
What is it?
Poleng Mask is an art form coined by Per Brahe, using Balinese craftsmanship to create exquisite masks like no other. These masks are of characters, archetypes and abstract images- they can be anything.
Originally used to train actors, the art form has taken on a life of its own. Built around movement, gesture, and expression, it brings you in contact with your true self, outside of the frame that life and society have given you.
The images in the mask are incorporated into your body through movement exercises rooted in the spine, freeing your unconscious to express itself freely, safely, and with compassion.
Each individual mask is a unique experience, and working with the same mask brings about new discoveries each time. Repeated work with any mask will let you go further, deeper, and uncover more in your journey of self discovery.
Poleng Mask is a very active, movement involved activity, so bring comfortable clothes to move in! All bodies and abilities are welcome.
Most of the work is done in a group or ensemble setting, but private work is also available for a more tailored experience.
The Origins
Poleng Mask originated from Per Brahe’s journeys to Bali beginning in 1988. After hearing about the famous Legong Dance from Antonin Artoud’s The Theater and its Double, Per sought out the best mask makers in Bali and began to design his own work through their craftsmanship.
Balinese mask work exists in their dances, as well as for ceremony. In designing his own form of the mask work, Per took great inspiration from their unique styles and his collaboration with Balinese artists, while still keeping the indigenous Balinese culture and mask work protected.
Pictured here, you can see the distinct differences between a traditional Balinese mask for a dancer, and one of Per Brahe’s designs from 2023. In both examples, the Balinese craftsmanship is front and center as a pinnacle of mask making.
Poleng Mask has been taught internationally, including Denmark, Soviet Moscow, Spain, New York, and of course- Bali. During Per’s time in New York, he taught at renowned schools such as Yale, NYU, William Esper Studio, Purchase, Terry Knickerbocker and more.
What does Poleng mean?
The word Poleng refers to a fabric pattern which is used in Balinese society for symbols of balance. This fabric is often black and white (although it can be other colors), and you can see it wrapped around Palinggh shrines, and the sacred Banjar tree.
Poleng is a term used to refer to black and white— the contrasting colours symbolize two different things that cannot be separated. The two properties in contrasting colours become symbols of balance and harmony, it is like day and night, good bad, regular chaotic, right and wrong, and so forth.
“I like to see it as a reminder for mankind to remember to be in balance. Symbols come to life because they are attached to values, values beyond the group’s very attitude and become the identity of local beliefs. If you visit the ideas of the gods you won’t only find objects or rites covered with Poleng fabric, you will also see various forms of sculpture that also symbolise the depth of attitude in doing their beliefs. Not only does it have a meaning in describing the beliefs of local people, but certain objects in Bali also have a very high value.”
—Per Brahe
The Craftsmanship
The process of mask making involves three equally important aspects: the design, the carving, and the painting. Once the design is prepared, the drawing is given to the mask maker. The carving process is quite intricate, and must take its time.
The Balinese mask makers are masters of their craft, many of which have been in practice since they were very young. The masks use a special wood native to Bali from the Polai tree, which has a unique feel and texture. Each time there is a knot in the tree, the Balinese will have a special ceremony to ask the spirit of the tree if they may take it for their wood. Once the wood knot has been cut from the Polai tree, it is sent to the mask maker.
After the design has been carved by the mask maker, the mask undergoes a layered painting process. This is done by I Wayan Erik Wahyudi, a Balinese artist who is responsible for most, if not all, of the mask painting seen in this collection.
