23rd Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest People
Mask and Red

The image constructs a highly emotional and meticulously controlled space through the use of deep crimson. The profile of the subject is juxtaposed with a traditional opera mask, symbolizing the multiple roles that women are constantly assigned to fulfill within social and cultural structures. The mask is not merely a cover, but an existential state shaped by prolonged wear, gradually merging with the face itself. Elaborate headpieces and thin gauze signify the state of "being observed," turning the body into a site that carries expectations and norms. Through fragmentation, overlap, and stillness, the photo explores the tensions between self-perception and external gaze in the formation of female identity, as well as the internal fractures that arise from the continuous performance.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 11.2025
Date Uploaded: 11.2025
Photo Location: None, United States of America
Copyright: © Zhiyu Ma