Close Window

Jaime Zapata Espinoza

Jaime Zapata Espinoza, born in Lima in 1953, is dedicated to a very interesting craft - creating masks inspired by his profound Peruvian roots. Made with loving patience, each mask is unique and can express every feeling in the human heart, from happiness to deep sorrow.

"I'm an architect, but since I was young I've dedicated a part of my time to the handcrafting of masks. The objective of my work is to transmit human emotions in seemingly animated objects. I use recycled paper and textiles, cans, and some vegetal elements like rushes. Colors are given with natural oxides and earths. For decorating my pieces I also use hand-woven elements with Inca motifs. Each mask is cast with milled paper, dried and finished by hand in elaborating the particular characteristics of a human face in a specific expression. Each piece is unique, and some of them have an aged appearance achieved with a layer of patina. Some masks have rushes and tresses made of fiber ropes. The final step is a layer of lacquer for protecting the pigments.

"My works have been exhibited in fairs and events in Peru, Germany and Japan."