Celebrating the launch of four intense new colors in the SKIN Curious Collection, the “2nd SKIN” mask contest challenges all to show their creative identity. The contest runs from Sept. 6, 2012 to Feb. 28, 2013.

Three visionary contemporary artists also created masks that explore the concept of a second skin. Their artworks set a high bar for competitors and will be awarded as valuable top prizes. Along with these priceless original artworks, there are lomographic cameras and Creative Review subscriptions to be won. To take the lead from these inspirational artworks visit the 2nd SKIN mask contest’s dedicated website: www.secondskincontest.com.

“The contest is a challenge to anyone with creativity in their DNA to show what they are made of,” says Ferkó X. Goldinger, marketing manager at Appleton Coated, the exclusive North American distributor for The Curious Collection of fine papers.

“Curious Collection is devoted to showcasing international talent and accompanying designers on their creative journey,” Goldinger elaborates. “It is the brand’s ambition to inspire audacity and originality and to be a force for creativity. Through collaborations and contests such as this, it aims to empower the creative community, providing an international platform from which members can freely express themselves and explore their potentials.”

Entries to the 2nd SKIN mask contest may be made from SKIN Curious Collection or any other paper. Contestants can order SKIN samples for their masks by emailing curiousmarketing@appletoncoated.com.

After creating their mask, participants are invited to post a photo or video of them or someone else wearing the mask on the online gallery at www.secondskincontest.com. They are then encouraged to use their social network to rally support and gain votes on the site. A Special Audience Prize will be awarded for the mask that obtains the most “likes.”

The top two prizes, as well as the lomographic cameras and Creative Review subscriptions are in the hands of an international jury of influential contemporary artists, designers and creative paper professionals.

The three artists who lead the 2nd SKIN mask contest are French contemporary artist Kriki, award-winning New York-based Japanese paper artist Kako Ueda and the French multimedia studio Bonsoir Paris. Their commission reflects Curious Collection’s commitment to nurture creativity and young talent. Kriki and Kako Ueda already feature in international art collections, while the talented Bonsoir Paris was discovered when the studio won both the French and International prizes with their remarkable paper creations in the 2010 Curious Story contest.

All three works of art are unique, created exclusively for this project.

* Kriki (www.kriki.com) has created a SKIN artwork that is an assemblage of paper elements, folded and pasted one-by-one by hand. The concept is rooted in African masks and their use in costume, dance and culture for self-expression, liberation and ritual. Kriki is the alias of renowned painter and musician Christian Vallee. It is also the name of his alter ego who appears in many of his paintings. Both he and his SKIN Curious Collection mask reflect a belief that art and hidden identity, contrarily, are self-revealing: “To wear a mask transforms you. It reveals to the others your true nature.”