Yanggon, Myanmar Photo: Xinhua

For over a decade, Sayar Sein, a local Myanmar artisan, has been creating masks for the characters of Myanmar-version of Ramayana, an ancient Sanskrit tale.

Originated from Hindu culture,  Ramayana has been adapted in many versions in Southeast Asian countries and the arrival of the tale in Myanmar dates back to King Anawrahta's reign by oral tradition. Named as Yama Zatdaw, it later unofficially became the national epic.

The folk tale narrates a story of a prince named Rama of the Kosala Kingdom - his travel life across India, along with his wife Sita and brother Lakshmana, as well as his quest to rescue his wife who was kidnapped by Ravana, a demon king.

As the story is often performed as a drama in the country's theaters, the characters - Rama, Lakshmana, Sita, Ravana and Hanuman - are well-known to the public in Myanmar.

Sayar Sein has been fond of ogre masks since the age of 14 when he first found ogre and demon masks owned by the Obo Nandwin Yama dance troupe on the way to school.

He then started working with his master U Ohn Maung, head of the dance troupe, by helping his master in repairing masks used by the dance troupe.

"I never dreamed I would one day be making the masks which I loved watching on the stage during my childhood days," Sayar Sein told the Xinhua News Agency.

"There is a story behind each and every character of the Ramayana and my master not only taught me the know-hows of craftsmanship but also the detailed story of the character. Since then, I have done masks for almost every character of the tale," said Sayar Sein, who is now running his own art business including crafting masks for dramas, plays and religious festivals.

Of the characters in Yama Zatdaw, the craftsman loves to make the mask of Ravana, the 10-headed demon king. 

"The Ravana mask is my favorite one as the details of the handwork and skills can be seen on its mask such as the harmonious assembling of its 10 heads," he said.

It takes about a month to make one mask from raw material to the final product on stage, and all the masks are mainly handcrafted by Sayar Sein alone.

The masks are made of papier-mache, latex for molding process of facial features, and watercolor is mainly used for painting the masks while adding ornaments to the masks as the finishing touch.

"We need to adjust the painting colors of the masks with the lighting of the stage where the dramatic art will be performed using the masks," he said.

"The lifetime of a mask lasts as long as we can maintain or preserve them. My oldest creation is an ogre mask which was made in 1980," he added.

The 60-something artisan now has another wish. 

"I am planning to open a gallery next year, where I can display all my masks for art lovers and younger generations who are interested in making masks."

Prices of the masks made by Sayar Sein range from at least 150,000 kyats ($100) to over 800,000 kyats.

"I mostly ask him to make ogre masks and religious masks for me as the masks he makes have perfect ratios due to his attention to detail. The oldest one I bought from him dates back to 20 years ago. I don't think there is anyone who is more skillful than him," Mhaw Satt Shin, one of his clients, told Xinhua.

Like other countries, Yama Zatdaw or Ramayana, may be derived from the same origin, but there are differences in making character masks based on the traditions of the countries. 

"That is why I want everyone to know that Myanmar culture and traditions can be learned through my masks," said Sayar Sein. 
Newspaper headline: Brought to life