Ancient Mexican Masks: Embodying Gods and Spirits
Chapter 1

The man behind the mask

Chapter 2

Deciphering the masked characters

Chapter 3

Street art goes global

YOUR GOAL

Master of The art of Saner

Ch 2 · Deciphering the masked characters
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Ancient Mexican masks weren't for hiding—they let you literally embody a god.

choko Decode Saner's modern jaguar characters to see how ancient Mexicans embodied gods.

Aug 26

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choko Saner's Masked Characters

Show your true face, show your true face, we're blind till we wear the wild.

Aug 24

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choko Duality of life and death

Aug 24

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The jaguar of the underworld

choko The jaguar mask is a recurring symbol in Saner's work, representing power and ancient Mayan mythology.

Aug 24

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Sometimes hiding our faces is the only way to connect on a deeper level.

choko Explore how artist Saner uses colorful masks to help us look past physical appearances and connect on a deeper emotional and spiritual level.

Aug 26

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Masks of Love
BETA

choko Play this interactive game to explore love without faces, myth, and modern art through the unique vision of Mexican artist Saner.

Aug 24

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Fun Fact

Beautiful Duality: Saner's masked characters blend life and death into a harmonious cycle. This reflects ancient Mexican folklore, where endings are celebrated as the start of new beginnings.

Aug 26

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Glossary
vibrant colors (noun)
Bright, highly saturated shades that stand out and bring intense energy to a piece of art. For instance, in the chapter 'Deciphering the masked characters' from the project Masks, Myth & Modern Art: The Vision of Saner, the artist uses these lively tones alongside skeletons to turn a scary topic into a cheerful celebration of life's natural cycle.

Aug 26

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Gossip

Which animal mask feels the most powerful?

Aug 24

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Quiz

What visual contrast does Saner use to soften heavy themes like mortality in his paintings?

Aug 24

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choko The magic of Mesoamerican masks

Aug 24

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The shape-shifting nahual

choko Mesoamerican myths of humans turning into animal spirits heavily inspire the creatures in Saner's paintings.

Aug 24

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Fun Fact

Mesoamerican masks: In ancient Mexico, wearing a mask was not meant to hide your identity, but rather to allow you to temporarily embody a god or spirit.

Aug 24

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Glossary
mask (noun)
A covering worn on the face for disguise, performance, or protection. Mexican artist Edgar Flores, known as Saner, uses traditional folklore masks to reveal his characters' true faces.
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Aug 24

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Quiz

What philosophical concept of balance, common in Mexican folklore, does Saner explore by pairing life and death?

Aug 24

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choko The shape-shifting nahual

Aug 24

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Quiz

Which traditional Mexican holiday, celebrating deceased ancestors, heavily inspires Saner's skull and skeletal imagery?

Aug 24

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choko The jaguar of the underworld

Aug 24

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Quiz

Why do Saner's painted couples often wear masks even during intimate moments like hugging?

Aug 24

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Quiz

How did ancient Mesoamericans view the act of wearing a mask, which inspired Saner's art?

Aug 24