Kavat (masks)

Kavat are constructed from a rigid framework of split bamboo lined with a layer of leaves and wrapped in a “skin” of bark cloth. Each kavat is unique, its imposing form and dynamic motifs designed to embody an entity in the natural world. Named motifs include the triangular goer (the spirit’s tears) and kotmaku (animal tracks in the sand or the slithering form of a snake); cross sections of rengit seeds, believed to have curative powers, are another popular design. All masks have a pair of sohong (staring eyes) and repeating geometrical motifs in red and black, some applied with felt-tipped markers. These outlines play against the negative space of the natural bark surfaces, animated by the crackling fires and the movements of the masked dancers during performances that last through the night.