By William Lee Adams, for CNN
Published 9:10 AM EST, Tue March 4, 2014
Welcome to the masquerade —
Every year up to three million visitors swarm the Carnival of Venice, a giant masquerade party that lasts for more than two weeks. Revelers mingle at cultural events and let loose at riotous street parties. No costume is complete without a mask or, in this instance, a court jester's parasol.
The diva is in the details —
No one knows the exact origins of the carnival, but many historians believe that it originally commemorated a military victory. Today the city uses it to celebrate Venetian culture and the long history of Venetian mask making.
The pink lady —
A highlight of the carnival is la maschera piu bella, a contest for the best masked costume. Contestants compete in daily heats in Piazza San Marco. Finalists stomped it out in front of an international jury during the grand final on March 2.
Beware of snakes —
Stefano Nicolao, a Venetian mask maker and Oscar-nominated costume designer, has strict criteria. "For me, emotion must emanate through the costume and the person who wears it," he says. "There must be beauty, originality, an explosion of color."
The man and the moon —
Contestants can compete as individuals or in groups, as in this sun and moon pairing. German designers have taken the title on several occasions in recent years, but in 2013 the contest was won by an Italian toymaker.
Artisans at work —
Traditional Venetian masks are made by hand. Artisans first create a paper mache base, and then they apply paint, lace, feathers and jewels. Increasingly masks are not merely sold for masquerades, but also for weddings, corporate parties, fashion shows, and other social events.
Antique face —
To give masks an antique look, they are often painted with a special paint that cracks as it dries. The technique, known as craquele, results in masks like this one.
Designer snout —
Doctors developed the Medico della peste (Plague doctor's mask) to protect themselves while treating victims of the Black Death. It features a long hollow beak and circular eye holes covered with transparent discs.
Masquerade waltz —
In the 18th century Venetian men wore the bauta, pictured at left, to political meetings so that they could express their will anonymously. This style of mask has a protruding chin that allows its wearer to eat and drink without removing his headgear.
Look into my eyes —
The Columbina is a half-mask that covers only the eyes. The mask takes its name from a stock character in Italian plays--a maidservant who is so vain she only wants to cover a portion of her face. Worn primarily by females, it is considered the woman's answer to the bauta.
The moonies —
The volto mask is considered the most typical Venetian mask. Often stark white or gilded, it covers the entire face. Owing to the fact it's light weight and rather creepy, the volto is also known as the ghost mask.
The Scream —
Masks like the volto can be a source of anxiety, an idea which this reveler plays on with his Munch-inspired costume. Popular culture teaches us to fear people with masks. Just think of Hannibal in "Silence of the Lambs" and Jason in "Friday the 13th".
Madame Macabre —
Masks don't have to look scary to stir unease. We rely on people's facial expressions to understand their feelings and emotions, and to sense threat. By removing these cues, masks can make people anxious.
Flower power —
Of course it's not all fear and anxiety. Carla Almanza-de Quant, an artist and Venetian mask maker in California, says that masks actually un-mask the person inside of us. "Once you put on a mask you're cheerful, you're playful, you're a more wonderful you," she says. "You become a fantasy character and you interact with others in a more outgoing way."
A man of many faces —
Maximiliano Gimenez, who runs the mask atelier Blue Moon Venice, also sees transformative power in masks. "The mask hides shyness and allows you to play with thousands of identities," he says. "Lately there are more masquerade parties where the mask becomes the highlight. People's imaginations fly. It is a nice game of seduction."
In full bloom —
Chinese manufacturers have started mass producing masks made of plastic. They sometimes attach a "Made in Italy" label to give their product an aura of authenticity.
Made in Italy —
Walmart, Target and other major retailers now sell "Venetian masks", which are not actually made in Venice. "Those who want to buy mass-produced plastic should not come to us," says Gimenez, whose masks can cost more than 200 euros each. "Our customers receive something original and unique, created by artisans with passion and love."
Carnival of Venice Masks
Story highlights
The Carnival of Venice attracts around three million visitors every year
The Best Masked Costume Contest features wacky clothes and haute couture
Venetian mask makers charge hundreds of euros for their most lavish creations
CNN —
Every spring Halloween meets haute couture at the Carnival of Venice. Culminating March 4 after nearly a month of masked frivolity, the most popular festival in Italy draws up to 3 million visitors annually.
Wearing feathered headdresses, flowing capes and, most importantly, a bevy of bejeweled masks, they enjoy a giant masquerade party that spills onto the streets and into the canals.
The Piazza San Marco is the epicenter of the action, especially during preliminary rounds of the Maschera più bella contest for the best masked costume.
Every day dozens of masked contestants stomp down the runway of the Gran Teatro, a temporary outdoor theater, hoping to make the grand final. Costumes skew toward the elaborate, with men and women dressed as brightly-colored court jesters, kabuki princesses, and glittering animals.
Regardless of the outfit, Venetian masks – a symbol of the city and a focal point of the carnival –are essential to any winning ensemble. During the final, contestants pout and vogue in front of an international panel of costume, fashion and mask designers.
Among them is Stefano Nicolao, one of Venice’s most esteemed costume designers, who has dressed Hollywood stars for films including “Elizabeth” and “Pirates of the Caribbean.” He does not approach his responsibilities as a juror lightly.
“The theme of the mask is absolutely essential to help your imagination arrive at what I call the dream,” he says. “For me, emotion must emanate through the costume and the person who wears it. There must be beauty, originality, an explosion of color.”
Given the complexity of Nicolao’s criteria, there is no formula for success. Last year the Italian artist Anna Marconi won the contest on her 17th try. Dressed as a sumptuous doll, she offered a high-fashion take on the toy box.
The 2012 winners – a group of five men and women from Germany – wore billowing pink and purple dresses with matching masks. They appeared to be masquerading as Marie Antoinette’s tea servants.
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A history of craftsmanship
The origins of the masked carnival remain a mystery, though it’s often said the festival first appeared in the 12th century to celebrate a military victory. Today the city uses the carnival to showcase Venetian culture, which includes a long and proud history of mask masking.
Artisans have passed down mask making skills over successive generations.
As a child Maximiliano Gimenez learned the craft from his uncle. Today he runs Blue Moon Venice, an atelier and retailer. He and his 15 artisans produce roughly 15,000 Venetian masks per year and are currently training two young apprentices. Some of his staff have been making masks for more than twenty years.
The “Volto Piume” (Feather face), one of his most ornate masks, retails from €200.
Starting with a paper mache base, artisans apply a thin layer of paint that cracks to give the mask an antique look. They then adorn it with lace sourced in Venice, and finish it with gold leaf and Swarovski crystals.
“At the end it is encircled with two layers of real cock feathers in different colors,” Gimenez says. “We only use natural colors, of course.”
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Unmasking the mind
The enduring popularity of masks doesn’t stem merely from their beauty. It also stems from the freedom that comes with hiding who you are – or at least who people think you should be.
Carla Almanza-de Quant, an artist and Venetian mask maker in California, has clients all over the world. They call on her to create gorgeous masks that will turn heads and break the ice.
“Once you put on a mask you’re cheerful, you’re playful, you’re a more wonderful you,” she says. “You become a fantasy character and you interact with others in a more outgoing way. The real mask is the one we put on every day because society tells you how to do this, and how to do that.”
Chinese rivals?
The global interest in masks isn’t waning, and mass retailers are keen to tap into the market.
Target invites customers to “make a dramatic entrance to your next masquerade ball” with its $18.49 Venetian Mask with Headpiece in polyester. Walmart sells a $9.99 Venetian Raven Adult Halloween Mask in plastic with “a unique crackle finish.”
The arrival of cheap, mass-produced masks from China has created new frustrations for Venice’s mask makers.
Chinese manufacturers sometimes try to sell their products under the brand “Made in Italy”, and attach labels that wrongly say they were made by hand in Venice. The influx of low-quality masks, which retail for a few dollars, also distorts the expectations of consumers who begin to question why authentic Venetian masks can cost several hundred euros.
Gimenez of Blue Moon Venice believes his masks carry the soul of the city with them.
“Those who want to buy mass-produced plastic should not come to us,” he says. “Our customers receive something original and unique, created by artisans with passion and love.”
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