Topeng (Indonesia, Yogyakarta)

The Topeng , literally "mask" in Javanese and Indonesian , is much more than an accessory: it is a channel. Inherited from the theatrical traditions of Java and Bali , this ancient practice is inseparable from community rituals, agricultural cycles, and even ceremonies of passage. Each Topeng mask embodies an archetype: king, spirit, demon, or servant. When worn, the mask is not a mere disguise—it becomes a presence, sometimes perceived as inhabited, that must be mastered as much as interpreted.

In Yogyakarta , a center of Javanese culture, Topeng reinvents itself every year through festivals that blend tradition and contemporary creations. Dance is not performed to entertain, but to summon . Grotesque or threatening masks have a specific function: to ward off disturbing spirits, protect the living, and seal the link between the visible and invisible worlds. This theater is a threshold, an in-between where the performer steps aside to make way for a collective memory.

This photograph was selected by the prestigious international gallery 1X.com, which recognizes works for their aesthetic and documentary value.