Atlanta-based artist Jym Davis, known by his creative alias False Face, blends sculpture, performance and photography in his new solo exhibition, "Final Form." (Photo courtesy of Jym Davis)
Atlanta artist Jym Davis describes himself as a myth builder. And that’s true. But the creative, better known as “False Face,” is also a sculptor, photographer, online content curator and five-time National Park artist in residence.
Davis’s primary medium is elaborate and otherworldly paper mâché masks that are inspired by nature. The artist then wears the masks in natural settings and captures their essence using performative photography. Davis also serves as the Endowed Chair of the Art Department at Reinhardt University in Waleska, Georgia.
His new solo art exhibition, “Final Form,” opens Feb. 12 at the university’s Fincher Visual Arts Center and is on view through Feb 28. False Face recently joined Kim Drobes on “City Lights” to share details on the show and the story behind his transcendental practice.
Davis began his artistic journey in film and photography before embracing mask-making in 2015.
“I started with store-bought masks in my photos, which was not that fulfilling,” he shared with Drobes. “ So, I just picked it up, self taught and came up with my own method of working.”
His masks, often large-scale and intricately detailed, take on a life of their own in performative photography, where he wears them in natural settings.
The “Final Form” exhibition highlights Davis’s fascination with transformation and storytelling.
“ We have masks that are thousands of years old and still continue to play a role in festivals today … I think it has something to do with just people wanting to become something else,” he explained.
The show includes “Jack in the Green,” an outfit and mask inspired by British folklore, which Davis wore at a festival in Hastings, England.
“ That piece is inspired by the Green Man, which is a mythological character that you find … all over the world” he said.
Jym Davis’ “Jack in the Green” mask. (Jym Davis)
Beyond his personal artwork, Davis curates a widely followed Instagram page, where he shares masks from diverse global traditions.
“ I’ve been pleasantly surprised that people seem to understand what I’m trying to do and are inspired by it and often send me ideas,” he said.
His ability to connect historical traditions with contemporary art has cultivated a dedicated community of followers.
