Magnhild Kennedy

Damselfrau

Mask maker

©Robert Kennedy

In the action of mask making

Magnhild is a self-taught mask maker
She grew up in Norway with two artist parents
East London’s club culture is what launched her as a mask maker

Magnhild Kennedy goes by the professional name of Damselfrau. She creates highly embellished masks that are simultaneously autonomous works of art and action objects. Her interest in mask making began when she moved to London from Oslo in 2007 and discovered the East London phenomenon of ‘fashion-clubbing’. Inspired by the creative outfits of her fellow clubbers she made some face pieces for a club night and over a couple of years began to hone her style. Organically and slowly, this became her work. Magnhild’s creative process starts with choice of materials and colours. She works with anything that can be treated with needle and thread allowing the materials to dictate the object’s look. Self-taught, Magnhild credits her upbringing in a household where both parents were artists as her schooling.

Interview

©Robert Kennedy

©Robert Kennedy

How did your interest in mask making begin?: I discovered fashion-clubbing, an East London phenomenon, where fashion students and creatives would make outfits to go out and dance in. What they made from mundane everyday materials was an eye-opener! Pure couture. Inspired, I made some face pieces for a club night, and the format just stuck with me.
What is it about masks that fascinates you?: The mask is a place. A sculpture, a picture, a tool. A space for my and other people’s projections. For me, the mask is a place where all these different elements come together to form a situation. The work is more about this place-situation than the mask as a theme or category of form.
What is your creative process?: I collect materials. It always starts with the material and the colours. I find something that ‘tastes right’ and then I just let the materials lead. It is a hunt for a feeling. I like to work fast and I watch action movies whilst I work to keep the pulse up.
What is behind your artist name Damselfrau?: Damselfrau was my Skype handle at first. When the mask project started, it seemed like a good idea to recycle the name by using it. It is a word composed of the unmarried and married woman. I like the duality of it. It is a word that masks itself.

Magnhild Kennedy is an expert artisan: she began her career in 2007