Masks +Vejigantes

This colorful series was mainly inspired by "Vejigante" masks from Puerto Rico, my country of origin. I've reinterpreted these folkloric "caretas" by using traditional elements with a contemporary twist. These images are all digital/mixed media and were created by experimenting with "Vejigante I", a drawing I made using inks and watercolor pen.

The origin of the horned "Vejigante" character (demon/prankster) *probably traces back to Medieval Spain and the Catholic Festival of St. James ("Fiestas de Santiago Apóstol"). But due to the mix of African, Taino indigenous and European cultures in the Caribbean, a very unique version of this character resulted in Puerto Rico.