12 Wonderfully Bizarre Face Masks By Icelandic Knitter Ýrúrarí

Icelandic artist and student Ýrúrarí has been knitting for most of her life and it’s helping her to cope with the pandemic too. Ýrúrarí has created a series of mouth-themed face masks and it’s so playfully bizarre, it’s awesome.

“Everyone’s everyday lives have changed dramatically at the same time. It’s something we’re all experiencing at a certain level, so I think we can all relate to [the project] in some way,” she told The Reykjavik Grapevine.

The artist said she’s painfully aware that many across the world are being affected by the virus way worse, but knitting is helping her to “keep sane” in these strange times while she continues pursuing her Master’s degree. “I feel a bit better when I’m knitting whilst watching something dumb.”

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Image credits: yrurari

Each mask takes Ýrúrarí hours of hard work, and even though the artist got some help from her knitting machine, she made most of the elements by hand. “There’s more sculpturing you can do with your hands,” she added.

Image credits: yrurari

A few internet commenters pointed out that these masks won’t protect anyone from COVID-19, however, that wasn’t the artist’s intention in the first place. Ýrúrarí said the masks are decorative rather than practical. She was simply trying to spread some joy while coping with the pandemic on a personal level.

Her work is meant to be humorous. “I’m a bit too shy to be on stage so I tell jokes through my knitting,” Ýrúrarí explained. “I don’t think I could ever say anything super wise, but I might knit something that makes people smile.”