The Enduring Spirit of Wood: The Masks of Kushmandi and Their Maker In the heart of West Bengal, India, nestled in the village of Kushmandi, a tradition thrives—the creation of vibrant wooden masks that embody centuries of folklore, ritual, and artistic skill. These are not merely decorative objects; they are vessels of energy, protectors against ill fortune, and central figures in the dynamic Gomira dance. The artist known simply as ‘artist from kushmandi’ is a custodian of this heritage, a mask maker whose hands carry the weight of generations and whose work breathes life into the ancient…