In his series 'Swagged Out,' Toronto-based artist and musician Curtis Santiago, who is also known as Talwst, alters old Bossons heads. Santiago provides a fresh perspective to masks by giving them a modern take infusing them with products from popular culture. More specifically, the masks take on a "swag rap" style, as Talwst covers them with Kanye West shutter shades, Ray Bans and blinged-out gold teeth.
The wall-mounted relief masks represent a social commentary created by the multidisciplinary artist as he blends the world of music and art. The work is accurately described by the website Beautiful Decay as a take on 15th-century Italian Death Masks that are in fact, "Santiago’s farewell to certain aspects of "Swag Rap Culture."
The Swagged Out series will be exhibited in New York City at Fuse Gallery from August 15th through September 12th.
Stylish Relief Masks
Artist Curtis Santiago Provides Alterations to Bossons Heads
Trend Themes
1. Artistic Mask Alterations - Opportunity for artists and designers to offer new takes on traditional mask forms with modern cultural influences.
2. Music-inspired Artwork - Opportunity for artists to blend the worlds of music and art to create social commentary.
3. Modernizing Traditional Art - Opportunity for artists and designers to infuse traditional art forms with a contemporary twist.
Industry Implications
1. Art and Design - Opportunity for artists and designers to create unique pieces that fuse traditional and modern elements.
2. Fashion and Accessories - Opportunity for accessory designers to create new pieces inspired by popular culture products.
3. Music and Entertainment - Opportunity for artists to explore the intersection of music and art and create thought-provoking pieces that comment on the industry.