The body as a canvas : a non-permanent form of body art inspired by body adornment practices

Abstract

Forms of body adornment and scarification practices have been around since the origin of mankind. Many forms of traditional body adornment have evolved overtime and still exist within our mainstream society today, however examples of recent body adornments, show that although still very much in practice, in many cases the meaning has been lost. The motivational routes of western adornments are today based on what looks good as apposed to a ritual or right of passage that marks one's body for life. Therefore, the aim of this dissertation is to share the value of representation with the viewer - as representation has played, and continues to play, such an important role within the social aspect of mankind. Bycreating a link between traditional practices of African body adornmentl scarification and connecting these with body expression and representation within my own sub-cultural context, I hope to create awareness of body adornment throughout time. Finally the practical component of this research will consist of a portfolio of different photographs and videos documenting the process and completion of adorning different female bodies. These works of art will be traditionally inspired, nonpermanent three-dimensional body art that will also undoubtedly represent selfexpression and comment on 'trendv' sub-cultural society. As Idocument my progress and work it is hoped that I portray in a conceptual framework, a life cycle that comments on the evolution of culture from rural to urban, and from traditional to Western, and how Western lifestyle is diluting our social being with trends rather than using the method of body adornment as a cultural conversation.