Co-creating Cultures for the Future Week
The Italian Anthropological Masks
Italian Republic
As part of Expo 2025 Osaka, the conference “The Italian Anthropological Masks” aims to highlight Italy’s ancient traditions through historical masks from various regions. The event will feature presentations on the anthropological and cultural significance of
these masks, followed by an evocative parade. Among the featured masks will be the Mammutthones and Issocadores from the Pro Loco of Mamoiada, the Boes and Merdules from Ottana, and the ancient Dolomite masks of "La Zinghenesta" from Canale d’Agordo (Belluno).
This event offers a unique opportunity to introduce the international audience to Italy’s folk traditions and their crucial role in shaping the country’s cultural identity.
Discussion
- Traditional performing art
- Local community revitalisation
- Historical heritage
| Transmission of simultaneous interpretation | Provided |
|---|---|
| Language of interpretation | Japanese and English |
-
Track Programme
- Time and
Date of
the event -
-
2025.05.03[Sat]
15:00 ～ 17:00
(Venue Open 15:00)
-
- Venue
- Pavilion
- Italy Pavilion, also hosting the Holy See
Reports
【Reflection】
Italy is home to a rich intangible cultural heritage, with anthropological masks representing one of its most distinctive and ancient traditions. During the event, Mario Vattani, the Commissioner General for Italy at Expo 2025, highlighted the importance of safeguarding and promoting these traditions as a vital part of Italy’s cultural identity. The Unione Nazionale delle Pro Loco d’Italia and the Fondazione Pro Loco are working together to preserve these traditions, aiming to catalogue over 200,000 italian traditional elements. Today, more than 500 groups across the country use anthropomorphic masks as a symbol of their community’s identity.
The conference explored the origins of Carnival, which dates back to Venice in 1097 but has roots in ancient masked rituals. Local rural festivals often preserve a more authentic anthropological dimension of this celebration. Notable examples include the Mamuthones and Issoadores from Sardinia and the Zinghenesta from Canale d’Agordo, whose ritual erformances re-sacralize the territory and carry wishes of prosperity.
Sardinian culture holds a special place in this narrative. Influenced by ancient Egypt, the Sardinians were skilled navigators and warriors, known for building nuraghi, now UNESCO World Heritage sites. The Nuragic people were adept in metalworking, astronomy, and sacred architecture. Rituals like those of the Boes and Merdules tribes are distinct from Carnival: masks, such as Mamutones and Isocado, often appear frightening and produce loud sounds to ward off evil, while figures like the Filonzana weave symbolic threads of life.
UNESCO has defined cultural heritage as intangible, but although Italy has 19 recognized traditions, none are yet linked to masks, unlike other nations such as Japan or Bulgaria. Anthropological masks, together with intangible heritage, transcend national boundaries, acting as bridges between cultures and fostering dialogue across communities.
【Post EXPO Initiatives】
This conference has served as a catalyst for strengthening connections between practitioners and researchers involved in safeguarding intangible cultural heritage across Italy. In particular, traditional mask cultures face challenges such as a lack of successors and changing methods of transmission. By sharing these issues in an international forum, new insights have been gained towards finding solutions. Moving forward, there are plans to promote more effective protection measures, including the digital archiving and online dissemination of the mask cultures featured at the event, as well as combining these with local workshops and training programmes for future successors. Additionally, knowledge gained through this cultural event will be shared with other regions to support their own safeguarding activities.
By broadening the universal value of traditional culture globally, these initiatives aim to contribute not only to addressing regional issues but also to the sustainable development of cultural heritage.
Cast
Speakers
Mario Vattani
General Commissioner Expo Osaka 2025, Ambassador
Born in Neuilly-sur-Seine (France) on 7 July 1966, he graduated in Political Science from the University of Rome in 1989 and entered the diplomatic service in 1991, holding posts in Washington DC, Cairo, Tokyo and Osaka, among others. In 2001, he returned to Rome as diplomatic advisor to the Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Policies, and in 2008 he served as diplomatic advisor to the Mayor of Rome.
In 2014, he became coordinator for relations between the European Union and Asia-Pacific countries, both on a bilateral and multilateral level, taking care, among other things, of relations with regional organisations such as ASEAN.
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Antonino La Spina
National President of UNPLI
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Fernando Tomasello
Board Member of the Pro Loco Italia Foundation
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Raffaele Sestu
President of UNPLI Sardinia
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Franco Saba
Mayor of Ottana Anci Delegate
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Pier Luigi Petrillo
Chairholder, UNESCO Chair Unitelma Sapienza University
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More Information
Co-creating Cultures for the Future Week
The Italian Anthropological Masks
As part of Expo 2025 Osaka, the conference “The Italian Anthropological Masks” aims to highlight Italy’s ancient traditions through historical masks from various regions. The event will feature presentations on the anthropological and cultural significance of
these masks, followed by an evocative parade. Among the featured masks will be the Mammutthones and Issocadores from the Pro Loco of Mamoiada, the Boes and Merdules from Ottana, and the ancient Dolomite masks of "La Zinghenesta" from Canale d’Agordo (Belluno).
This event offers a unique opportunity to introduce the international audience to Italy’s folk traditions and their crucial role in shaping the country’s cultural identity.
-
2025.05.03[Sat]
15:00～17:00
(Venue Open 15:00)
- Pavilion
- * Programme times and content are subject to change. Any changes will be announced on this website and via the ticket booking system.
- * The schedule is subject to change depending on the organiser's circumstances.
OTHER PROGRAM
Co-creating Cultures for the Future Week
