The ‘Eternal Masquerade’ is a short animated piece that centers around the protagonists, Venerio, who searches the afterlife for his lost love. He recalls a vivid memory of their first star-crossed encounter, ultimately merging their afterlives into one charmed Elysium.
The inspiration behind the animation stems from a trip I took to Venice—I was captivated by the architecture and ornate masks. I decided to explore the idea that these inanimate relics of history host the lost souls of their eras. Whilst there, I learnt of the Austrian invasion, masks were seen as a part of the Venetian culture of which Austria sought to suppress- subsequently banning the Venetian masks. Mask-wearing became taboo and was not revived until the 20th century.
Venerio and his fateful partner Vittoria would have been referred to as “mascherati” (the masked ones) and therefore would have been oppressed for their culture as masked ball goers- but the pair’s souls migrated into the quintessential Venetian Gothic lampposts, allowing them to live in their own Eternal Masquerade.
BA (Hons) Games Animation 
Vanessa Kowalczyk | Games
