Man Ray American, 1890-1976
Optic Topic Mask, conceived in 1974, executed 1978
gold plated sterling silver & brown suede cord with original wood frame marked 'Optic Topic'
mask: 13 x 8 x 6 cm
frame: 37 x 28 x 7.5 cm
frame: 37 x 28 x 7.5 cm
edition of 100 executed by GEM - Montebello
signed with certificate of authenticity and relating correspondence
© Man Ray
Further images
Optic Topic was originally as a pair of gold sunglasses with a very fine ‘arm’ to rest the glasses on the ear. After their untimely breaking, Man Ray reimagined the...
Optic Topic was originally as a pair of gold sunglasses with a very fine ‘arm’ to rest the glasses on the ear. After their untimely breaking, Man Ray reimagined the concept for the mask and sent it to Montebello, with a design that nods to the aluminium masks worn by racing drivers in the 1930s. One may think that the mask completely disrupts the wearer's vision due to the fact it lacks the transparency of a tinted glass, but the reality is that the viewer is in absolute control of everything they see.