Patterns Representing the Spiritual Realm

Balinese masks

In Balinese religious practices, masks play an important role. There are a great variety of dances and public performances in which they appear, as well as uses inside the temple. They can become a kind of material container for spiritual forces, and even a conduit by which the person wearing the mask becomes possessed. Equally important are the stories told in performances, where each character represents mythic struggles between good and evil, and the conflicts between doing what is right, and letting emotions cloud your judgement.

Let's use what we have learned so far to understand the way that the mask design uses algorithmic patterns to communicate its meaning:

1. Nature is represented by scaling curves
2. Humans are represented by simple shapes without scaling
3. Spirit is represented by repeated scaling of simple shapes (fractals).

The scaling curves, such as log spirals, are found in Balinese representations of plants, shells, animals, as well as the turbulence of air, water and fire. Here are some beautiful scaling curves that are found in the masks of Bali. What do you think the characters that the masks represent have in common?

If you guessed “nature” you are right! These are all characters that blend human and natural characteristics. The scaling curves represent the “curves of life”: long curling fur, fiery and turbulent emotions, and so on. You can experiment with simulating these scaling curves here.

And here are the full masks:

Hanuman, the monkey king

Barong ket, the protector spirit that combines ox and tiger for strength and powerful leadership

Jayatu mask, a fierce bird from the Wayang Wong performance. Note that his curves are more complex, because they represent the plumage on a bird

Jaran Guyang, the fire-breathing witch who transforms into animals.

Then there are more linear geometries, representing the human side. Those can be found in the simple repeated shapes--diamonds, tear-drop shapes and so on--in the crown. Humans create social organizations such as kingdoms, royal courts, lining people in a row, and so on (how are the seats organized in your classroom?). He may be a monkey king, but his crown looks like those of human kings and queens. Here is a mask for Sita the queen, from the epic Ramayana. Note the linear geometry of the crown: repetition without scaling.

But wait: what if we have an animal-like demon who represents death? In that case we would not expect the “curves of life”. But a demon king still deserves a crown. And that is the case for Jero Gede Mecaling, who spreads death and disease. He has animal-like fangs, but wears a human-like crown. He is known as “the Honourable Fanged One.” Small altars made from bamboo can often be found just outside of temples, on which are placed offerings to Jero Gede Mecaling. As long as he is honourably appeased, balance will be maintained.

Finally, we note that there is the “filagree” of delicate gold decorations that is almost everywhere on all masks. Since that looks like a fractal--simple shapes, but repeated at many scales--we might suspect that it is the spiritual presence that surrounds us all, human, animal and gods alike.

Now it is your turn to create a mask! You will find all of the shapes, from filagree to fangs, ready for your computing creativity in this simulation.