KAFTAN - Handmade in Morocco

Contemplation on the nature of identity

After graduating from the School of Decorative Arts in her hometown of Strasbourg, the French artist Muriel Nisse pursued a career in the arts and honed her skills as a make-up artist and wig maker for the Paris Opera. She then went on to collaborate with Charlie Le Mindu, the renowned hair artist and designer famous for his daring and boundary-pushing creations.

Muriel Nisse's exhibit of handmade masks is not only a celebration of cultural diversity and ritualistic traditions but also a contemplation on the nature of identity. The masks, with their biomorphic style, blur the lines between the human and the natural world, inviting us to consider the interconnectedness of all things.

At the heart of Muriel Nisse’s work is the question of what makes us who we are. Is it our physical appearance, our cultural heritage, our beliefs and values, or something else? The masks, with their incorporation of natural elements like hair and textiles, suggest that identity is a fluid and ever-changing phenomenon, shaped by the environments we inhabit and the experiences we undergo.

Moreover, the masks also point to the transformative power of art. By donning a mask, we are not only concealing our physical features but also shedding our preconceptions and assumptions about ourselves and others. In this sense, the masks offer a way to explore and transcend our limitations, to become more fully realized versions of ourselves.

In a world that often emphasises individualism and self-interest, Nisse's masks remind us of our interconnectedness and the importance of recognising and celebrating our differences. By drawing upon various ethnic influences and ritualistic traditions, the masks demonstrate that cultural diversity is not something to be feared or rejected but embraced and celebrated.