If there were ever an artist that you could perfectly pay homage to with a series of masks, you’d be hard pressed to find a better one than David Bowie. This story from the BBC introduces us to artist Mark Wardel, who specializes in making masks of the legendary musician.

If they look remarkably realistic to you they should, because they are all based on an actual casting of Bowie’s face. “I borrowed a cast,” he said, “from a friend in the music industry, and made a mold of it, just for my own use really.”

However, someone saw what he had created and commissioned him to make some for a David Bowie exhibition, something he has continued to do ever since.

In the video, you can see a few of the masks he has made, like his Ziggy Stardust one, as well as a series inspired by The Man Who Fell to Earth.

In light of Bowie’s sad passing, these may look like funeral masks to you, a fact that is not missed by Wardel. “They almost have the air of a death mask, which they kind of did beforehand,” he said, “It’s kind of quite strange because it’s almost him at rest.” As he sadly pointed out, before it felt like the eyes were about to open, but now you know they won’t.

If you are wondering what Bowie himself may have thought about these masks you don’t have to–Bowie once purchased two of them himself.

Which “Bowie” would you want to have a mask of the most? Tell us in the comments below.

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Image Credit: BBC