Photography, costume, masks, props & creative direction: Salo Shayo

The Anthropologist

Process:

The Anthropologist’s costume was crafted primarily from reclaimed and repurposed materials. I collected discarded burlap coffee sacks from a local roastery and transformed them into the base textile. The face motif was created through a collage of leftover fabrics and trims, combining painting, embroidery, and appliqué techniques.

The skirt was hand-frayed to achieve a weathered, timeworn texture. The mask was sculpted from recycled cardboard, and the hair-like extensions were built using found tree branches, reinforcing the raw, organic character of the piece.

The Anthropologist studies the emotional landscapes of Earth. They observe human rituals, gestures, and silent conversations, collecting stories rather than objects. Their armor protects them not from violence, but from the overwhelming intensity of human feeling.