Borucan Masks:
The Borucan tribe of Costa Rica are best known for their ceremonial masks and mask art, but in this tribe of many creative men and women, there are many other kinds of amazing arts variety media.
There are three distinct styles of masks, each of which tells a specific story about Borucan culture. The first is the Diablito, or devil
mask, which comes directly from the festival El Jeugo de Los Diablitos. It is the most traditional, dating back to the Spanish occupation of the region. The second is the Ecologica, featuring the plants and animals of the rainforest. These were originated by the new generation of artists concerned about the imminent threat to their culture form the destruction of their environment. The third is the Combinados. These masks are a metamorphosis of both the Diablito and the Ecologica. They represent the coming together of the old traditions with the new generation. All masks are original one of a kind designs carved from balsa wood and cedar. The artists use acrylic paint to adorn the balsa images and traditional hand-hewn tools to carve. The design is drawn onto the front surface and then carved. This process creates a relief out of one piece of wood.
There are three distinct styles of masks, each of which tells a specific story about Borucan culture. The first is the Diablito, or devil
mask, which comes directly from the festival El Jeugo de Los Diablitos. It is the most traditional, dating back to the Spanish occupation of the region. The second is the Ecologica, featuring the plants and animals of the rainforest. These were originated by the new generation of artists concerned about the imminent threat to their culture form the destruction of their environment. The third is the Combinados. These masks are a metamorphosis of both the Diablito and the Ecologica. They represent the coming together of the old traditions with the new generation. All masks are original one of a kind designs carved from balsa wood and cedar. The artists use acrylic paint to adorn the balsa images and traditional hand-hewn tools to carve. The design is drawn onto the front surface and then carved. This process creates a relief out of one piece of wood.
The Jungle Mask
The artists of this piece, Sergio González Rojas(carving) and Melvin González R. (painting), are renowned for their mask carving artistry.
The designs of ecological-diablo masks from this collection correspond to the traditional diablo mask-type used by the Brunka in the Danza de los Diablitos fused with wildlife from their region.
Tribe: Brunka (Boruca)
Size: 10 1/2″ x 17″ (27cm x 43cm)
Artist: Sergio González R./Melvin González R.
The designs of ecological-diablo masks from this collection correspond to the traditional diablo mask-type used by the Brunka in the Danza de los Diablitos fused with wildlife from their region.
Tribe: Brunka (Boruca)
Size: 10 1/2″ x 17″ (27cm x 43cm)
Artist: Sergio González R./Melvin González R.
Scarlet Macaws Mask
This painted and carved mask made from balsa wood – both painted and natural - features a composition melding diablo (Native person) and macaws.
Tribe: Brunka (Boruca)
Size: 13″ x 18 1/4″ (33cm x 46.5cm)
Artist: Sergio González R.
Tribe: Brunka (Boruca)
Size: 13″ x 18 1/4″ (33cm x 46.5cm)
Artist: Sergio González R.
Frogs Mask
These fine art pieces are reminiscent of story boards allowing the mask artists to render scenes of the landscapes, flora and fauna of the Brunka tribe’s territory, as well as scenes from their native legends, cosmology and Pre-Columbian past. The very elaborate and almost narrative ‘ecological-cultural masks’ are an evolution emerging from the traditional Brunka tribal masks used in their annual ceremony, Danza de los Diablitos. This particular hand painted, carved mask features a number of local frog species and an ancestral spirit face.
Tribe: Brunka (Boruca)
Size & Dimensions: 7″ x 17″ (18 x 43.5 cm)
Artist: Casilda Lázaro Rojas
Tribe: Brunka (Boruca)
Size & Dimensions: 7″ x 17″ (18 x 43.5 cm)
Artist: Casilda Lázaro Rojas
Traditional Diablo Brunka Mask
The artist, Edixon Mora, hand-carved and painted this highly detailed work from
balsa wood.
Tribe: Brunka (Boruca)
Size: 10 1/2″″ x 19″ (32 x 48 cm)
Artist: Edixon Mora L.
balsa wood.
Tribe: Brunka (Boruca)
Size: 10 1/2″″ x 19″ (32 x 48 cm)
Artist: Edixon Mora L.
Carved Small Tropical Tribal Mask
Carved by a mask maker of Boruca village. This richly detailed tribal mask – a chieftain-demon wall mask – is carved from the tropical balsa wood and is a smaller version of the traditional, hand-carved wood diablo mask-type used by the Brunka to represent themselves in their centuries-old Danza de los Diablitos. In the ceremony, the antagonist, the toro (bull), represents the invading Spanish.
Tribe: Brunka
Size: 10 (25.5 cm) tall
Artist: Edixon Mora L.
Tribe: Brunka
Size: 10 (25.5 cm) tall
Artist: Edixon Mora L.
Snake Theme Mask
The snake, tebék in the Brunka native language, is an important animal in these people’s mytholgy and expression. One can see snakes as integral elements in the Pre-Hispanic objects of the Brunka’s ancestors – such as the highly detailed cast gold amulets.
Tribe: Brunka (Boruca)
Size: 9 1/2″ x 18″ (24 x 46 cm)
Artist: Richard Morales D.
Tribe: Brunka (Boruca)
Size: 9 1/2″ x 18″ (24 x 46 cm)
Artist: Richard Morales D.
Orchid Theme Mask
Fused with local flora and fauna this carved and painted mask (balsa wood) features a traditional diablo visage covered by a large study of a local orchid species with two local species of frogs off to the side of the composition.
Tribe: Brunka
Size: 8 1/4″ x 16″ (21 x 40.5 cm)
Artist: Casilda Lázaro Rojas
Tribe: Brunka
Size: 8 1/4″ x 16″ (21 x 40.5 cm)
Artist: Casilda Lázaro Rojas
Small Carved Mask: Classic Diablo
Brunka masks such as these are a smaller version of the traditional, hand-carved wood diablo mask-type used by the Brunka, a Costa Rica tribe, to represent themselves in their centuries-old Danza de los Diablitos, an annualceremony whereby the antagonist represents the invading Spanish. This particular piece features a classic diablo design; the intricate surface painting with such striking colours make this wall art quite a conversation piece.
Tribe: Brunka
Size: 5 1/2 ” x 8 1/2″ (14cm x 21 1/2 cm)
Artist: ’Paco’ Lázaro F.
Tribe: Brunka
Size: 5 1/2 ” x 8 1/2″ (14cm x 21 1/2 cm)
Artist: ’Paco’ Lázaro F.