Become the Art
Body painting is a beautiful form of art that has had quite an international cultural heritage. Body painting, like piercings and tattoos, is a form of body modification art. Its purpose is to express oneself, to adorn oneself, or to be a part of a larger piece of art. Unlike piercings and tattoos, however, body painting is temporary. Body paint usually washes off quite easily, or slowly fades over time (such as henna tattoos).
Nowadays, body painting art is often seen at special events, or at carnival related events. It is often practised either for entertainment for children, or to decorate one’s body in a loud, outgoing fashion. Body painting is within the same category as cosmetics and make up, and in fact are often applied as such! Think special performers who are going on stage with full body paint!
The History in the Art of Body Painting
Body painting came from when indigenous tribes used to paint themselves in order to worship gods. Or it was done to signify certain aspects of the person’s body. Tribes that practised body painting did so as a ritual, ingrained in spiritual beliefs. It is done to show inner qualities, to reflect the image of Gods. Or it would be done to show a person’s rank in the community. Different indigenous people across the globe practise body painting differently.
From the Australian Aboriginals, to the Native American tribes. And including the remote tribes of the Pacific Islands. As well as the ancient practises of Hindu tradition – all with different meaning and methods. These practises may now seem like artefacts of history, engaged by cultures very different to ourselves. However, there are more similarities than you could possibly imagine! Many people tattoo themselves with images that are both aesthetically pleasing, and have emotional connections to their own personal history.
Body painting is also a form of performance art. Artists often utilise their entire bodies as the object of exhibition, and can form incredible and beautiful results. Like all art, body painting art (or body art), is performed to create critique or commentary on society. Sometimes, these pieces of art can be shocking, but very rarely are they considered boring or mundane. Body art as a form of visual art can be fringe, wildly popular and sensational.
Image courtesy of Castlemain Fringe
Practical uses in the Art of Body Painting
For that reason, body painting, when not used purely for art, is often used for advertisem*nt and promotional work. The mixture of using one of the most primal and meaning-laden canvas (the human body) accompanied with shocking and/or beautiful body designs, means no matter what, the promotional will gain attention, and be remembered clearly. The realism that can be achieved through good, professional body painters, can render the human body to look like something else completely – such as the product being promoted!
Other ways in which body painting is used include camouflage in the military. Here, body paint is used skilfully in order to allow the wearer to blend in with their surroundings, by using paint with earthy and natural tones to most effectively copy a natural palette. This is almost exactly opposite of bodypainting for promotional purposes, yet the principle remains the same: using body paint as a tool to transform the body from its human form to another form, or to enhance or hide certain features in a body.
Regardless of its use, bodypainting is a beautiful form of art. For events that require a visual punch, or to get a lot of attention, body paint is extremely effective, memorable, and they are great to look back on in photo albums.
Have Body Painted Characters at your next Event
If you need Body Painted Characters for your parties or corporate celebrations – Applause has you covered! Let us know the specifics of your event over the phone because we’d love to hear about it! For example, direct communication with our entertainment specialists will help us figure out which entertainment would best suit your event.
We offer high-quality and professional entertainment services in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, Tasmania & Canberra. Available across Australia – we’d love to hear about your event and how we can help. To be sure your entertainment makes your event memorable, consult with us today!
As with all Applause Entertainment events, the entire planning process is simple! Consult with us today over the phone as to what you need at your event. We want to make it happen! Call 1300 261 545
