Dust+Beau x Jungle Tribe Collab Custom Leather Mask: Less Of a Science, More Of a Feeling

A one of a kind custom mask collaboration between Jungle Tribe and Dust+Beau. In the photo you will see the blank Jungle Tribe Leather Mask that the artist customized. This is the result.

From the Designer: I started this mask like I start most creative projects, without a plan. Materials that I collect speak to me, and I usually start by playing around with them and let them flow together. When Im in this mode, I usually let my hands go. Things just sort of happen as I cut, stitch, paint and assemble.

Artists are always asked what their inspiration behind their piece is. Its always a tough question. What is that happens during the 24 hours in a day that becomes an inspiration, or a source for the subconscious layer? Its that age old question, 'Why do you do what you do?'. While I was working on this mask, like it or not, I was 'bombarded' by images of bombing. Kids in hospitals with injuries so horrific they stick in your head and never leave. Children crying after learning that their parents or siblings were killed by bombs. So far beyond absolutely atrocious on all levels, I cant ever imagine what they are going through. Thats what influenced me to paint a fire breathing bomb dropping dragon and circle it with the writing 'What did the children ever do? To get Bombed'

Maybe the atrocities led me to attach toy soldiers amongst childrens toys. I never understood toy guns, and war toys for kids. Why do we socialize children with this stuff and normalize killing so early in their lives? While I was working on the mask I really didnt know why I did that. I also had no idea why I used so may stuffed animals and flowers and toys. Maybe it was my subconscious wish for humanity, that children should always spend their lives without death and horror and terror: that they spend their time playing with toys and looking at clouds and spotting dinosaurs, and swimming in waves and smelling flowers and dreaming of unicorns. Maybe its my dream that the people in this world and the leaders that lead them realize that responding to terror with terror is stupid. Id like to tell anyone (no matter what religion or political stance) who can justify bombing innocent children to F*CK OFF, respectfully. Im imaging myself having lost my parents in a bombing. What would I do as I grew up living with this? Again I dont know for sure, but Im assuming I would make it my life long mission to wreak havoc on the people that were responsible.

This mask become political without me knowing it until the very end. Again, it just let my thoughts and hands flow. On the front of the mask I painted a bomb wielding skeleton, and I circled with the words "Less of a Science, More of A feeling". That has become a bit of a mantra for me lately, maybe to get me me to stop analyzing, and tap into the intuitive side of my brain. As we are bombarded with information about which side to support and who is right and who is wrong, l encourage you to not get caught up in it, and to follow your feelings. If you do this, you wont get stuck thinking the way the media wants you to. Instead you will come back to the place of knowing that what you are feeling is common sense: Under no circumstance do children ever deserve to be bombed. Ever. Period.

At the time of finishing this mask, 1413 children had died in Palestine since the start of the war. If you purchase this mask, we will donate half the proceeds to an organization of your choice related to helping children, doctors, or hospitals.

Check out more of Dust+Beau's work on IG @dustandbeau