Face masks have become a common occurrence around the world in the past year, but while most cover only a fraction of the user’s face, a new type of mask provides complete coverage and gives users a temporary new identity.
Japanese retailer Shuhei Okawara has created hyper-realistic masks that, when worn, make the user look like an entirely new person.
“Mask shops in Venice probably do not buy or sell faces,” Okawara told Reuters. “That is something that’s likely to happen in fantasy stories. I thought it would be fun to actually do that.”
While the masks are not “Mission Impossible”-level facial camouflage, nor do they protect against the spread of the coronavirus, Okawara’s masks do give their user the ability to hide their identity while still giving the appearance of being just another face in the crowd.
The masks are based on real people, with more than 100 applicants sending Okawara their photos in the hopes of being selected as models for the face masks. An artisan reworked the image of the winner, who was paid 40,000 yen ($385), on a 3D printer to create the final product.
The masks, which will go on sale in early 2021 for 98,000 yen ($945) at Kamenya Omote, Okawara’s shop in Tokyo, have already generated interest among the shop’s clientele. Okawara sells party accessories and popular theatrical performance products at the shop.
Okawara shared that most of his clients see the masks as art pieces. “As is often the case with the customers of my shop, there are not so many people who buy (face masks) for specific purposes.”
Eventually, Okawara hopes to include additional faces in the mask line, including from other parts of the world.
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