DIABLOS DANZANTES
Creative/ Art Director, Designer & Photographer
This project reimagines the traditional devil masks of Los Diablos Danzantes through a contemporary lens, merging costume design with high-fashion elements. Each mask reflects the hierarchical structure of the dance, using bold materials and modern aesthetics to honor tradition while pushing its boundaries into the realm of visual and performing arts.
Built from fabric, structure, and symbolism, these three masks bring the concept into physical form. From research and curation to final construction, each piece reflects a layered creative process.
But to understand the intention—you have to start with the tradition.
“LOS DIABLOS DANZANTES
DE YARE”
(DANCING DEVILS OF CORPUS CHRISTI)
'Corpus Christi'
Corpus Christi comes from the "Feast of Corpus Christi", also known as "the solemnity of the most holy body and blood of Christ". In Venezuela, this feast celebrates the real presences of Christ. The legenda says that bread and wine turned into the body of Christ.
While many countries around the world celebrate this day with a holy mass and a procession of blessed sacrament, Venezuelans come out to the streets as 'Dancing Devils' and perform a ritual dance to local drum beats on the ninth Thursday after 'el Jueves santo'...
These devils then wage a battle with guardians, surrender to the eucharist and then they fall to their knees infront of the church, where the priest will bless them.
They believe
"Fulfillment of the oath is the heart of the surrendering rituals that creates the triumpth of good and evil"
"THE GOOD WILL ALWAYS OVERCOME THE EVIL."
All devil masks have a hierarchy, represented by their masks and the number of horns they have. This tradition has been passed n through the generations that go back to almost 400 years.
Creating three masks focusing on the hiarchies of the horns:
'Promeseros' The dancers
'Segundo Capataz' Organizes the development of the dance
'Primer Capataz' the oldest devil with the highest authority in the dance.
