I
The Sacred Object
For centuries, masks connected people to something greater than themselves. In African ceremonies they carried ancestral spirits. In Greek theatre they revealed who a character was. Carefully made and deeply respected, they stood for strength and protection.
II
The Shield
When the pandemic arrived, the mask became something we had never worn before: a shield against an invisible threat. We put it on out of fear, but also out of solidarity, because protecting ourselves meant protecting the people around us. Each mask carried a quiet hope that better days were coming.
III
The Trace
Once used, millions were thrown away. Made mostly of plastic, they now drift through streets, rivers and oceans, harming wildlife long after we have forgotten them.