Atlanta-based artist Jym Davis, also stopping by Fake facehas a thing about bats. He began making masks of the winged mammals during a series of residencies in national parks in the American West. In Arizona, he learned about Townsend’s long-eared bat and critically endangered species like the pallid bat in Northern California, Oregon and Idaho.
“(The Townsend’s big-eared bat), crumpled, wrinkly faces and enormous ears seemed so sculptural and beautifully grotesque to me,” Davis tells Colossal. “The more strange and exotic bats I discovered, the more I was inspired to further develop my sculpting and painting techniques.”
When entering the caves or lava tubes that the bats call home, Davis takes precautions to protect the animals from infectious diseases and fungi that visitors may notice on their shoes. “Over the past century, bats have been abused and deliberately exterminated,” he says. “I think I have a particular fondness for bats because they have been so historically misunderstood.”
Drawn to ancient European festival traditions and materials used for centuries, Davis began making masks as a way to connect his work to history and land.
“For example, I really like sculpting with papier-mâché because it is hundreds of years old,” he says. “I sew bells and ribbons into my outfits because it is also an old festival element, which Shakespeare even references.” He generally avoids modern materials, especially anything made of plastic.
Although Davis’ designs are based on real creatures, he often embellishes the masks with striking patterns, colors and geometries. The pieces are part of a broader, ongoing body of work that he describes as a “menagerie of mythological characters,” including a series of alien bird creatures called Flood birds and a grouping inspired by moths and butterflies titled Morph angels, among others.
Davis puts on the masks in natural settings and captures each personality in striking photographs and performances. This month he heads to Joshua Tree, California, for a number of photo sessions in preparation for his upcoming book about Morph angels.
The artist currently has an albatross mask on display FEEDER: OCEANS bee Dorado 806 projects in Los Angeles through October 12. Some of his masks are also available for purchase from him websiteand you can follow updates at Instagram.
You may also enjoy Ashley Suszczynski’s ongoing documentation of ancient masked traditions.
