Facekini

Facekini
Video
2013

‘Facekini’ is a video piece of the artist in a mask, designed for swimmers and beachgoers, which covers the head and reveals only the eyes, nose, and mouth. These ‘Facekini’ masks are popular in China, where the cultural belief is that ‘white skin’ is beautiful. A pale complexion is prized as feminine and the masks are worn for protection against UV rays and tanning.

This video is an exploration of my mixed ethnicity. The spectacle of this Chinese beachwear trend is juxtaposed by the visual language of the mask itself within a sea side town and British society.