Waynne

CoM: CIAO! TODAY WE’RE INTERVIEWING CARNEVALE MASK MAKER, WAYNNE ROBENN.

CoM: WAYNNE, HOW DID YOU FIRST LEARN ABOUT CARNEVALE IN VENICE, ITALY?

WR: I’ve known and followed Carnevale in Venice for many years through my involvement with the performing arts.

CoM: WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT CARNEVALE?

WR: The tradition of the festival and the incredibly fantastic masks and costumes that are paraded each year. I was honoured to have two of my masks worn by clients at the 2025 Carnevale.

CoM: HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE CARNEVALE TO SOMEONE WHO HAS NEVER BEEN?

WR: Sheer spectacle - the likes of which are not seen anywhere else on earth.

CoM: TELL US ABOUT YOUR CARNEVALE COSTUME MAKING.

WR: I started making masks back in the ‘90s when I was doing wardrobe for various ballet organisations. I found creating masks to be a truly satisfying and thoroughly enjoyable method of creativity. And I still do so today.

My masks are available online through my website www.tiauraarts.com.au and minasmartglobal.com.

CoM: ARE THERE ANY CARNEVALE BUSINESSES YOU WOULD RECOMMEND OTHERS CHECK OUT?

WR: Whilst I do not currently support any specific individual online mask making businesses, I do interact with several makers through Facebook. And I locally promote the incredible work of Venetian mask makers.

CoM: ANYTHING ELSE YOU’D LIKE US TO KNOW?

WR: Six years ago, I was fortunate enough to be able to spend time in Venice and chat with every mask maker I was able to find. It is thanks to these amazing traditional artisans that I returned home with a wealth of information and advice about the craft I love so much. Hopefully, I’ve since been successful in putting much of what I learnt into my particular form of creativity.