Mask of the 21st Century Mask of the 21st Century Mask of the 21st Century

This semester project reinterprets the gas mask as a symbol of contemporary fears and threats — war, ecological destruction, toxic environments, and social crises. The original protective artifact is transformed into a flower, a symbol of nature, regeneration, beauty, and peace. The result is a satirical “weapon” — gentle, harsh, absurd, and menacing at once — which does not protect by concealing reality but by ridiculing and reshaping it.

The mask is covered with a furry plush textile, enriched with sewn petals and felt elements, giving it a playful yet ironic expression. The work blends aesthetics, satire, and ritual function — turning a dystopian object into a wearable artifact that mirrors our collective anxieties while transforming them into a poetic reflection.

In the context of the exhibition theme, the Mask of the 21st Century shows how jewelry design can shift from a purely decorative medium to a critical commentary on the present. It reimagines a symbol of protection as an instrument of cultural purification and suggests that humor and playfulness, too, can serve as forms of defense against fear.