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Body Art For Fun
Body art is the art that is creative expression made with the human body as the medium—that is, all kinds of motifs and patters are made on different parts of the body. Its most common forms include tattoos, body piercings, scarification, branding, scalpelling, shaping, full body tattoo and body painting. Let’s consider body painting.
Body painting is an ancient form of art and a form of body art which is unlike tattooing since it is temporary, painted onto the human skin, and lasts for just a few hours or at most a couple of weeks. When the face is painted, the form is known as face painting.
Body painting uses clay and other natural pigments when done by the tribals of Australia, the Pacific Islands and parts of Africa, and was often done as decoration during ceremonies. Mehendi, a semi-permanent form of body painting, uses henna and is widely used in India and the Middle East, as part of bridal make-up.
In the entertainment world, actors and clowns around the world are known to paint their faces and bodies.
Face painting: Recently, face painting among kids has become very popular—you can see it everywhere. Just take a look at kids at theme parks, parties and festivals. Though face painting is mainly done on kids, teenagers and adults also join in the fun of having their faces painted for occasions.
Body paints: These days, body paints used are non-toxic, non-allergenic and are easy to wash away. They are also easy to apply with your hands, paint brush, natural sea sponge, or an airbrush.
The natural brown henna dyes of mehendi are safe to use. However, synthetic black dyes cause serious skin allergies and one must have a patch test done before going in for body paint. No matter what kind of body paint you use, if your skin reacts to the paint, stop the painting immediately. Don’t apply it on open wounds or too close to the eyes.
Body painting festivals: Body painting, today, continues to be a big rage in both amateur and professional arenas. Across the world, body painting festivals are held annually to bring together professional body painters and amateurs on one platform.
If you have ever visited a football match or rave party or been to a music or rock show, you’re sure to have seen many people with face or body paintings. Of these, the biggest body painting festival is the World Body Painting Festival at Seeboden, Austria, which takes each year in July.
Sydney Body Art Ride: Every year in the middle of February, in Sydney, Australia, the Sydney Body Art Ride is held to raise funds for children’s cancer research. Volunteers create a moving art work titled The Human Rainbow which comprises hundreds of painted cyclists who travel in groups to form a rainbow which in turn travels through the city to a beach. Here, the painted riders walk into the sea and wash off their paint.
The Painted Naked Cyclists of the Summer Solstice Parade: Also called The Painted Cyclists of the Solstice Parade, this festival comprises three major segments: a pre-ride body painting party, an extended party cycle ride through the city, and then the parade which begins at noon.
Body art can be great fun—if you’re uninhibited.