The tradition and process of Topeng mask carving has a long history, with the earliest Topeng performed around the 14th century. During her time in Bali, Alice learnt the craft of mask carving under the guidance of a master carver. She shares her learning about the process below along with images from her personal photo album.
While I was in Bali I lived and worked with a master mask carver, Nyoman. My teacher.
I would carve full time during the day. The first mask took me three weeks, carving every day. You start with a Pulay wood. It’s sacred. It’s quite soft. You go to a pulay tree, and you have to chop it at a specific time, and give it blessings. It’s bizarre holding a block of wood thinking ‘this is going to turn into a thing I wear on my face.’
Usually you chop it to the right size, and then use a mallet and a chisel to carve. All the chisels are fashioned out of metal. You start to shave it. There’s a point where you use a carving knife. I started by using Nyoman’s tools, and then realised after a while I should have been using my own to get used to working with them. Even just holding the handles.
There is another tool called a Bali knife. It is curved. You use it to shave the face in. When you’re learning you cut yourself all the time. The best way to sit is to sit on the floor with the wood between our legs. It’s really good for your hip flexors. Many people find it quite hard. I found it hard to start.
Nyoman is a holistic practitioner so before we would start carving he would ask how our day was, we’d drink a coconut, we’d talk about how we felt in our bodies. The whole time we were carving I asked him every question I could. And if you weren’t feeling good, he’d say you didn’t have to carve that day. It’s like cooking – you’re energy goes into what you make.
I would carve full time during the day. The first mask took me three weeks, carving every day. You start with a Pulay wood. It’s sacred. It’s quite soft. You go to a pulay tree, and you have to chop it at a specific time, and give it blessings. It’s bizarre holding a block of wood thinking ‘this is going to turn into a thing I wear on my face.’
Usually you chop it to the right size, and then use a mallet and a chisel to carve. All the chisels are fashioned out of metal. You start to shave it. There’s a point where you use a carving knife. I started by using Nyoman’s tools, and then realised after a while I should have been using my own to get used to working with them. Even just holding the handles.
There is another tool called a Bali knife. It is curved. You use it to shave the face in. When you’re learning you cut yourself all the time. The best way to sit is to sit on the floor with the wood between our legs. It’s really good for your hip flexors. Many people find it quite hard. I found it hard to start.
Nyoman is a holistic practitioner so before we would start carving he would ask how our day was, we’d drink a coconut, we’d talk about how we felt in our bodies. The whole time we were carving I asked him every question I could. And if you weren’t feeling good, he’d say you didn’t have to carve that day. It’s like cooking – you’re energy goes into what you make.