Throughout human history, masks have taken many forms and have had many uses. They have served ceremonial purposes, they have been used for performance, for disguise and for decoration. They can change how we act, how we look but they can never change who we are. For those of us who experience mental health problems a mask can indicate the face we present to people, in spite of what we may be feeling inside.

The masks in this exhibition have been inspired by Japanese mythology, Noh theatre, the work of Hayao Miyazaki, Tokusatsu and floral patterns. All of the masks are compressed paper painted with acrylic and Chinese ink.

The photographs depict the masks we wear in different locations and situations. They were taken over a period of six months during the latter half of 2019. Ernie used a Nikon D-7200 with a 35mm lens.

A massive shout goes out to Olivers cafe in the Grainger Market for letting us feature their statue and to Terri for letting us have the space to show the work.'