The Noh Mask Reimagined: From Tradition to the Mona Lisa

MTC 211 • 2nd Floor • 11:00 AM

The Noh Mask Reimagined: From Tradition to the Mona Lisa

Talk by Dr. Kris Imants Ercums

Kansas University Spencer Museum of Art, Curator of Global Contemporary and Asian Art

This talk explores the transformation of tradition in the art of Noh mask carving, focusing on masks from the Spencer Museum of Art’s collection and the contemporary work of master carver Bidou Yamaguchi.

Rooted in centuries-old techniques and the austere beauty of classical Noh theater, traditional masks embody the Japanese aesthetic of yūgen—a subtle, mysterious depth that hints at the unseen. Yamaguchi, a formally trained Noh mask maker, honors this tradition while expanding its expressive potential. Over the past decade, he has turned his gaze toward iconic figures of Western art, such as the Mona Lisa and Girl with a Pearl Earring, reimagining them as Noh masks infused with yūgen. Most recently, he has introduced a bold new category: “persona” masks, which draw on contemporary and historical Western portraiture to explore questions of identity and cultural hybridity. Through a close examination of historic and contemporary masks, this talk reflects on how inherited forms are reactivated through cross-cultural engagement and artistic innovation. Yamaguchi’s work not only bridges East and West but also deepens our understanding of how tradition can be a dynamic and living force in global contemporary art.

About Kris Imants Ercums

Kris Imants Ercums is Curator of Global Contemporary and Asian Art at the Spencer Museum of Art, where he has curated over 30 exhibitions and 12 artist residencies since 2007. His curatorial practice focuses on Japanese art and visual culture, with recent projects engaging contemporary ceramics, postwar painting, and performance. Upcoming exhibitions include Form and Flux: Contemporary Ceramics from Asia and Brush, Block, and Blood: Three Generations of Yoshida Women Printmakers. He earned his PhD in Chinese art history from the University of Chicago in 2014 and is currently co-curating Street Nihonga: The Art of Jimmy Tsutomu Mirikitani with Maki Kaneko, opening February 2026.

Mask Image Credit: Bidou Yamaguchi | Artist