The Smiling Man

A very interesting idea! I believe that everyone wears a mask, and it is intriguing to think about who people are under such masks. I feel like you intend to make something that will confront people and make them reconsider who really are, what they hide, and why they hide. The original artwork is very thought provoking as it is, and I am glad you are trying to instill an even bigger interactive component into your work. I am excited to see the product!

Everyone wears a mask, or even multiple masks under different contexts, and thus I believe your final product will be very appealing to all groups of audience. And I think it's very appropriate that you're borrowing the idea and methods of illustration of "The Son of Man" to show your point, since the artist is also trying to convey a sense of secrecy and self-protection in the artwork, as you mentioned. Furthermore, regarding the specific way you're intending to approach your idea, changing the background and working on facial expressions to create contrasts/visual effects is a good direction to follow in my opinion. I look forward to see your final product.