TOP WINNERS! FIRST INTERNATIONAL MASK CONTEST - VENICE CARNIVAL 2014

Princess for a Day by Enzo Sindoca - Photo: nuovovenezia

(Venice, Italy) The three top winners of the FIRST INTERNATIONAL MASK CONTEST during the Venice Carnival were announced on Monday afternoon, March 3, 2014. The winners were inspired by this year's Carnevale theme, La Natura Fantastica or The Fantasy of Nature, reminding us of the times when mankind stood in awe of nature's power and transformed their wonder into fairy tales and myths.

Please read the prior Venetian Cat - Venice Blog posts for the rest of the story:

First International Mask Contest - Venice Carnival 2014 - DEADLINE JANUARY 15, 2014

Strut Your Stuff in Piazza San Marco - Venice International Mask Contest - UPDATE

The top prize went to Enzo Sindoca for his mask, Principessa per un giorno, or Princess for a Day. Sindoca is a professional mask-maker from Mira, a town outside Venice. The mask was created from one unique piece of leather.

Flowers of Ice by Nicola Gasparini - Photo: nuovavenezia

One of the two Special Mentions went to Nicola Gasparini for her mask, Fiori di ghiaccio or Flowers of Ice. Gasparini is from Spinea, another town in the Province of Venice. She created her mask using recycled materials such as plastic, paper and tin.

Grain as a Collective Hallucination by Ahmad Jafari - Photo: nuovavenezia

The other Special Mention went to Ahmad Jafari for his mask La Grana come allucinazione collettiva or Grain as a Collective Hallucination. Jafari is originally from Iran and now lives in Tuscany.

The word "grana" or "grain" is slang for money in Italian, and the mask is a social commentary on how mankind has become more awed by the power of money than by the power of nature that feeds us.

Congratulations to all!

Ciao from Venezia,
Cat
Venetian Cat - The Venice Blog