Female Face Mask (Gu)

<p>The hairstyle and the scarifications on this female mask, named <em>Gu</em> after the spirit it embodied, reflect the beauty standards favored by the Guro. Elaborate hair arrangements express both social status and wealth, since a woman sporting one must rely on the help of fellow women for its creation. Though the mask is no longer performed, <em>Gu</em> once formed a trio with two male characters. The refinement of <em>Gu</em>’s facial features stood in stark contrast with her chaotic and turbulent performance.</p>