huh?
gotta read it twice.

Edit: I'll let that stand as a pun.

Anyway, here's one story. As an urban explorer living in a foreign country that doesn't like its dirty laundry to be aired (literally; I've stumbled upon dirty laundry many a time in an abandonment), I had my fair share of bad reactions from the locals.

One city government actually sent a website hosting some of my images of an abandoned amusement park a weakly worded letter asking him to take them down because they hurt the image of the city.

Another time, I ran into a scrapper in an abandoned office building. He was throwing all metal things of value out a window to collect below. When he saw me taking pictures, he said something to the effect of "I'm so ashamed on behalf of my country that you're recording this."

I had a photo exhibition in an art gallery, and looking at the pictures on the wall there seemed to be something wrong with it, something about seeing pictures of a bunch of white people from traditionally powerful countries looking at abandoned buildings. Seemed kind of exploitative.

Then one day I was visiting a traditional market and saw something that made it all click. They were selling traditional wooden masks used in shamanistic rituals to satirise the aristocracy. Inspired, I bought one and started using it in self-portraits, in any location from abandoned buildings to the top of construction cranes to the interior of subway tunnels.

Initially I referred to it as a "rape mask," having first become aware of it on seeing a softcore porn rapesploitation movie on late-night cable TV. The plot is so misogynistically ludicrous I'll recap it here. Basically, a salaryman is unable to give his wife the attention she needs. While he's at work, a mysterious masked man wearing the exact same mask invades her home and rapes her. This happens several times, often with witnesses, and slowly she grows to like it. One time, she's raped in front of a female friend, who begs the rapist to take her too, but he beats a hasty retreat. At the end, the neighbourhood pervert jumps in and thwarts the attacker, but when he's unmasked it turns out to be the husband, who I guess was just trying to put a little spice in their love life with some forcible rape. The movie ends with the wife asking him to put the mask back on.

Anyway, that's a relatively minor point in the history of this mask, which is probably more on the level of the Guy Fawkes mask in this country, if they held a spiritual purpose. These masks were originally believed to have their own souls, and thanks to their construction, it's said that the emotion of the wearer is mirrored by the mask.

I've improved my photography using this mask, putting much more thought into composition rather than taking 100 pictures of one boring building. It's been relatively successful, with my images stimulating a lot more curiosity than the previous ones.

I haven't said any names that could make this easy to trace back to me, but I'm not too concerned about secrecy--I like including lots of hints about my real identity. My ego wants to eventually be recognised, and I don't have faith in the local authorities to catch me.

But so far, I've been successful, and I've gone from being seen as an ignorant white guy commenting on something he shouldn't, to an informed, eloquent local. The power of a mask really is remarkable; once I put it on, I really am not my regular self anymore.

Eh, I'll give you one place where you can see my work. This article interviews me and runs my most famous picture. Not sure how comprehensible any of this will be to everyone over here.
english.yonhapnews.co.kr/n_feature/2012/05/11/21/4901000000AEN20120511001700315F.HTML
Just to be safe though don't "like" this, in case the most popular page is more search-engine friendly. Just being so close to the first post is honour enough...
(racetraitor has an alibi for, Thu 25 Oct 2012, 12:41, 4 replies)

Based off the image in that article
I'd be very intrigued to see more of those photos.

I also completely agree with that wonderful confidence a mask/costume can give you. It's a little bit addictive...
( Extinct Jesus Dossier "...I think it counteracts Hitler's magic...", Thu 25 Oct 2012, 19:07, closed)

Probably won't hurt to share this.
www.flickr.com/photos/yangbantal/
(racetraitor has an alibi for, Fri 26 Oct 2012, 1:05, closed)

hmm
I was waiting for the Jim Carrey reference that never came.
(magic the cat will someone please think of the kittens, Fri 26 Oct 2012, 13:56, closed)

Sweet zombie Jesus no
Won't happen.
(racetraitor has an alibi for, Tue 30 Oct 2012, 1:15, closed)