Portrait 6

Portrait six uses staples across the forehead with stitches connecting the two together. The colours of the staples and stitch compliment the colour of the models hair. The placing of the stitches and staples make it seem as if the forehead is larger. The staples are much like the scarification methods that are seen in many African cultures. 

Portrait 5

Portrait five includes staples and stitches to create the illusion that the eyes are stitched together. The expression on the face makes it seem as if they are in pain, grimacing at the stitches in the eye. The colour orange compliments the colour of black making the eyes stand out more. The staples once again catch the light creating different shades across the top lid. I placed the staples in a crossed motion to create a bigger texture on the eye. 

Portrait 4

The fourth portrait consists of wrappers around the eye area. The brown creates an alternative eyebrow making the eye appear smaller. The gold wrappings appear 3D coming up off the face around the eye. This creates texture and makes it appear as if there is a ripple in the skin. 

Portrait 3

Portrait three consists of green and white stitches. The stitches alter the shape of the eye and outline the shape of the face. The stitches created remind me of code seen in the making of computers and other technology. The white is subtle under the contrast of the green. The stitches around the eye make the eye appear smaller almost bringing the eye down.

Portrait 2

My second image uses staples and stitches to create texture on the side of the face. The face shape hasn't altered, but what has been added ruins the flawless make-up. I decided to use staples and stitches as alternative materials to create a different surface texture. The staples have a shine to them so catch the light. The staples could act as a highlighter on the face.

Portrait 1

The first portrait uses flaked almonds and tipex to create a mask look on the face. Although it doesn't change the shape of the face it alters the appearance. The use of almonds creates texture on the face and raises the level of the skin. The shape of the almonds reminds me of a mask. Masks alter and deceive appearance. 

Brent Stirton Research

http://www.brentstirton.com/index.php#mi=2&pt=1&pi=10000&s=27&p=27&a=3&at=0

Brent Stinton is an American Photographer focusing on cultural issues. His work captured my eye because of the series of photographs called, Papua New Guinea - Culture in Transition. The images show Eastern Culture and life they live. In this series features images of scarification in beautiful ways that really shows the pattern and texture of what scarification is in the modern day. The images are from 2014 which shows just how current scarification still is. It is a tradition carried down through the generations taking the boy into manhood. The images can be found on the link above on Stinton's website. 

Omo Valley Tribe by Brent Stinton. Viewed 20/10/14

The image above is an example of Brent Stinton's work showing Scarification. The focus on the scars is subtle yet powerful completley capturing the attention. I have noticed how through the scarification images there is always nature seen in the background. I think that the image above is a great example, showing the scars with a background of a clean canvas. The contradiction is broken up by branches. Perhaps the culture take their inspiration for the shape and texture of the scars from the nature around them. 

Image Analysis - America

The Rikbaktsa tribe are known for stretching their ears and placing ornaments through the nose. Each piercing signifys an animal or human that they have killed. With each new piercing, the person will get a new name, therefore at the end of the piercing stage they will have multiple names which show their hierarchy within the society they live in. The style is full of vibrant colours which detracts from the thought that there could be any pain involved with the scarification and modernisation they carry out onto their bodies, unlike the tribal images of the procedures carried out in Africa. The tribe are found in Brazil, therefore the colorful feathers would be easily accessible to them because of the wildlife found in the jungles.

Rikbaktsa Tribe. Viewed 15/10/14

Rikbaktsa Tribe. Viewed 15/10/14

The piercings that they carry out are very much similar to the piercings carried out here in England. For years people have had their ears stretched, maybe not to the same extent as the Rikbaktsa people, but pretty similar. The new trend at the moment is to get the middle of the nose pierced, the septum. This just shows that there are similarity's between many different cultures all in the name of beauty.

Septum Piercing. Viewed 15/10/14

Example of stretched ears. Viewed 15/10/14

Image Analysis - Asia

Neck Rings worn in Asia. Viewed 15/10/14

Neck rings are worn in Asia to elongate the neck. Unlike those in Africa, these rings push down onto the collar bone creating a longer neck. This look is seen as desirable and is started at a young age to signify womanhood. Therefore this means that many women haven't seen their natural necks. The elongation of the neck attracts tourists from all over the world creating a source of income for the people using the rings. The rings themselves create a longer neck which give the women a persona of grace and femininity. Many of the women decorate the coils with pieces of fabric to match clothing which makes the coils an everyday object. Vilma Jaruseviciute created a series of works that elongated and shaped the features of the face. 

Vilma Jaruseviciute. 'Urban Dolls' Viewed 15/10/14

The series focuses on the concept of what natural beauty should look like in a world of ever changing ideals. As the idea of natural beauty is forever changing, Jaruseviciute has created these works to experiment with the idea of what can be perceived as natural beauty. The looks alter the face shape, much like the coils alter the neck shape. 

Vilma Jaruseviciute. Urban Dolls Viewed 15/10/14

Jaruseviciute shows how simple it is to alter the face shape with a simple piece of plastic. Another artist that alters the shape of the face using plastic pieces is Paddy Hartley. 

Paddy Harley. Viewed 15/10/14

The images here seem quite disturbing by the way how the face can easily be manipulated to create something more sinister. The whole face here has been exaggerated in comparison to Jaruseviciute's work, showing further experimentation of what people could look like if they simply moved the placement of the skin. This kind of work makes me intrigued as the looks can be worked upon with makeup to create a modified concept of beauty. 

Image Analysis - Africa

Luba scarification. Viewed 15/10/14

The image above is from the Luba tribe in found in the Republic of Congo in Africa. The scarification is done here by using a fish hook to pull the layer of skin up repeatedly until enough of the flesh underneath has been damaged in order to create large bumps. The bumps are then placed around the body in intricate designs in order to attract the opposite sex. It is believed that the body can hold spirits and the spirit of god, therefore the body has to be modified to create a interesting canvas. 

Luba scarification. Viewed 15/10/14

The scars are made up of lines or circles which are put into a unique design. Because scars tend to heal smooth, it is seen that the light catches the surface of them creating shape on the body. The more scars the person has built up on their body the more texture there appears to be. The closer the scars are to each other gives this feeling of smooth skin once more. It's as though the scars have formed together to create a new skin, which is ultimately what the tribe are trying to achieve. This kind of scarification is seen to be inspiration for many around the world. Tiffany Parbs, an artist, has found inspiration from skin scarification and has created a series of works that show connotations to the Luba tribe. 

Tiffany Parbs, Mark Series. Viewed 15/10/14

The Mark Series is more subtle then the scars created by the Luba people obviously because they are not a permanent feature. The marks are just left behind by pieces of jewelry and such items but look like little burns on the skin. If this concept was built up over a larger area it could create a similar effect like the scars found on the Luba people. There is less texture in the markings as they are closer to the skin but they still show how the skin is effected by a little cause, showing that it doesn't take much to mark the skin. None of the markings shown here have been exaggerated or distorted but I think they could be with the use of other everyday items. 

Tiffany Parbs, Mark Series. Viewed 15/10/14

American Body Modification / Scarification

Matses and Matis

The Matses Americans have long whiskers attached to their faces whereas the Matis have short whiskers. The world came into contact with this tribe in the 1970's and it is believed that they are the only people who follow the tradition of adding whiskers to the face. The tribe believe that the human body is not complete at birth, but becomes so when ornaments have been added to the body. 

Matis tribe member here seen with short whiskers. Viewed 15/10/14

Matses Tribe member. Viewed 15/10/14

RIKBAKTSA

The Rikbaktsa tribe of Brazil are known for their piercings. With each new piercing one would get, their name would change. Furthermore, for every animal they hunted their ears would get stretched bigger. 

Rikbaktsa tribe with stretched ears. Viewed 15/10/14

Asia Body Modification/ Scarification

APATANI

The Apatani people in Asia use nose plugs which act as a deterent for women to be kidnapped. This tradition is no longer used on young women, therefore it is only the older generation that can be seen with nose plugs. The older women can also be seen with a grey line down the face and across the chin area. 

Apatani women with nose plugs. Viewed 15/10/14

Tooth Modification - Japan

Tooth modification is a popular practise in Japan with many young brides coating their teeth in black wax before she enters her marital home. The black teeth wax is also used in brothels so has become highly sexualised. People in Vietnam also carry out this concept, blackening their teeth from a seed that has been chewed. In Japan the Empress stopped the idea of making the teeth black when she was seen with natural white teeth. The practise marks a womens coming of age and shows that she is ready for marriage. The wax acts as a protector for the enamel so is a form of oral hygiene. 

Example of black teeth in Japan. Viewed 15/10/14 

Teeth sharpening is also very common in Asia. The front teeth are sharpened into a fang like shape. It is believed that this will bring balance to the body and soul keeping the spirits away. The natural tooth is seen as a bad omen. It is also believed that the teeth are the gateway to this world. 

Example of sharpened teeth. Viewed 15/10/14

The most well known body modification procedure in Asia is foot binding. This is where the foot is broken and wrapped up repeatedly until the foot is small enough to fit into the desirable shoe of China. The China government banned this practise. 

Foot binding in China. Viewed 15/10/14

Guest Speaker & Africa Scarification

Last week we had the pleasure of receiving a lecture about body scarification from Keiron LeVine.  LeVine specialises in the area of Animalia, taking animal parts and turning them into fashionable headpieces. The lecture was based around cultures in Africa that scar the skin for different cultural reasons.

'Cockscomb' DR Congo, Boko Culture. viewed 14/10/14. 

Scarification on an Ethiopian woman. Unknown photographer. viewed 14/10/14

There are various differences between the meanings of scars on men and women. For men, the scars are created as  part of their acceptance into the tribe during their initiation. Women's scars have more depth of meaning. The scarification represents the milestones in their lives, the birth of children would be an example of such a milestone. The scars are created to attract men, have links to sexual desire and are also used to show one is married. The scarification methods are there as a way of communication between the tribes. Scarring women has also been used to avoid any danger of kidnapping and the slave trade. Furthermore, if a woman can bare the pain of scarification then they can handle childbirth which is seen as a desirable feature. Once the woman has had a child, scars will be added around the breast so that other tribesmen know. The scars will then be added to the legs and back following any further children. In African cultures there are multiple types of scarification which define each tribe. 

SHILLUK CULTURE. 

The shilluk tribe are a number of people who live in southern Sudan near the river Nile. The scars created in this tribe show strong cultural identity. Scarification here uses a fish hook to pull the skin up in a dotted line across the forehead. The scars are created to prevent kidnapping. The shilluk people have suffered from violence with multiple attacks by other organisations to prevent the tribe from rebelling. The scars could here also mean that they can endure. Shilluk is still around today. 

Example of scarification used in the Shilluk culture. Unknown photographer. Viewed 14/10/14. 

As you can see from the image the skin is scarred just above the eyes where the eyebrows would be. The skin is pulled up with fish hooks again and again until the desired scar is created. 

DR CONGO - BOKO

Boko is a district in the Republic of Congo in Africa. The scarification methods here are similar to that of the Shilluk culture, using a fish hook across the head to pull the skin up in order to create the scar. The scars created are similar to the head of a cockerel, with the skin falling down in layers. 

'Cockscomb' DR Congo, Boko Culture. viewed 14/10/14. 

From the image you can see that the scarring takes place from the hairline right down to the bridge of the nose. As scarring in some cultures shows hierarchy, perhaps the number of layers one has shows the importance of that person in society.The practise no longer exists as the only images found are in black and white. 

LUBA

The luba people are one of the largest ethnic groups in the Republic of Congo. Luba scarification is made up of more complex designs, yet are more subtle. The scars don't protrude out of the head a long way like the Boko people. The scars are again made the same way by pulling the skin to create different designs.                                                                              

As you can see from the image the scarring is a lot more intricate in detailing compared to those seen previously. Women in the Luba can chose their own design so each one is completely unique. This is done to attract the attention of young suitors and show a young woman's passage into womanhood. It is believed that Congolese women can hold the gods and spirits within their bodies, which is one of the reason that scarification is still a continued practise today. The culture thinks of the women's body as a symbol of beauty, something to be worshipped, which is why it is modified to create a unique, beautiful canvas for such a spirit. It is also believed that each scar is a way of encoding memory and as the scar gets older, the more memory it can hold. The scar can also signify an experience, like marriage or childbirth. 

YORUBA

Yoruba is a population based in Nigeria and in Western Africa. The practise of scarification is still celebrated in this culture. The markings are here called Kolo, showing a resistance to pain. The scars made here are owed to Ogun, the spirit of iron. Iron here meaning strength. These markings are shown with pride and are a symbol of bravery.

Woman in Yoruba culture showing facial scarification. Unknown photographer. Viewed 15/10/14 

The scars are animal like, and can once again be chosen. These scars would be made by cutting away at the skin. They almost have a tiger effect about them with the lines replicating the stripes. This may be done to show they are powerful like tigers. 

OMO VALLEY, PIERCINGS, NECK RINGS & MAKONDE

The Omo Valley and Makonde are very similar in their practices of skin modification. The tribes here use stretchers and plugs to modify the skin, much like we do in western cultures but on a larger scale and with other body parts such as lips. The piercings are very much still used today. They are seen as a way of beautification and deter people from kidnapping women from the tribe. The neck rings in the Ndebele tribe are a form of marriage ring. The ring is applied once the marital home has been brought. The amount of rings around the neck signifies wealth and won't be removed until death. Each year a new one is added. The neck rings are also found in Asia. The rings are an illusion and don't stretch the neck. This concept has been used by Dior in their advert for J'adore perfume.  

Example of the plugs used to stretch the skin. Viewed 15/10/14

Example of neck rings used in Africa. Viewed 15/10/14

Example of neck rings used in Asia. Here the neck rings are put on at a young age as a girls right of passage Viewed 15/10/14 

MANGBETU

Mangbetu are a tribe in the Republic of Congo. The body modification used in this region is called skull binding. The heads are elongated at birth through to infancy using a coil wrapped tightly around the head. In later life the hair is used to maximise this look often making the skull look further elongated then it actually is. This practice became extinct when western cultures started to arrive in their district. The practice was then banned. However, this style has influenced the western world, as elongated hair has been seen on the catwalk for Dior in 2011. 

The tight coil technique shown here on an infant. Viewed 15/10/14

Dior 2009.  Example of the hairstyles worn by mangbetu women. Viewed 15/10/14

Development of Latex and Tuplast

Following the last tryout with latex, we developed this further in class with more objects. We also added in tuplast to create different shapes that imitate scarring seen in tribes over the world. For this I used flaked almonds, staples and broken up walnuts.

 

Before adding Latex to the skin do a patch test to see if the client is allergic to the product. Apply the latex to the skin and stick the almonds onto it. With a hairdryer on the coolest setting dry the latex and then add another layer so you can build up the effect. 

When dry the latex will become shiny. I then added staples so that there was a different kind of texture on the skin. Once again add a layer of latex and dry until it is clear. Use acetone to break down the edges to blend the latex into the skin. 

Walnuts were then added to create some more texture on the skin. 

Once the walnuts were added I built up the flaked almonds so that the look was more 3D creating different textures and different levels.

Once the latex has dried you can start applying the colour to make the build up of nuts look like they are blended into the skin. This part needs to be blended with brushes as using fingers can dislodge the nuts. After a base has been applied to the nuts powder over the top to seal the colour. This will make sure the base is protected and will not rub. 

As you can see in the image the edges haven't been blended away with acetone. This means that the base just sticks to the latex and doesn't allow for any blending. Therefore the next time I will need to make sure the edges are blended away so that the latex and nuts blends into the skin. 

I think this look can be developed, by adding other colours and different textures. The design could alter the look of the body. Imagine if it was all over the arms or around the face, it would alter how the shape of the face looks. 

The next step was to add tuplast to the skin. Tuplast is used to create the effect of scars. When using tuplast make sure the lid is on as it can dry out quickly. I added tuplast around the edges and then added different shades of pink to bring out the scaring. The shades of pink here are too bold and doesn't blend in to the skin. The look is more obvious and needed to be more subtle. I think that this look can be developed and made bigger using different shades of colour and different types of nuts with other textures.

After the latex was taken off it left this red pattern on the skin which also is seen in parts of the body modification world. 

Furthermore when taken off the skin the latex formed together to create this all in one piece. I thought that this could also be developed and added to the skin again on top or around other pieces to alter the look of the face. 

Spaghetti Arms

Creating shape using everyday objects and latex

Health and safety: In order to use latex, please test on the inside of the arm. Any hotness or irritation signifies an allergy and should not be used. Seek alternatives such as Gelatin or Silicone. 

Cover the models clothing to protect from all spillages. 

Ventilation is key. Once opened, air the latex bottle before use. Also shake before use.

For this technique you will need:

- Materials such as rice, beads, string and spaghetti. Things that will create shapes and different textures.

- Liquid Latex

- Hairdryer
- Fullers Earth (Great to add texture, however not durable, a fixer spray will be required)
-Acetone to blend the edges of the latex

- Supracolour, glitter and any other makeup to blend the pattern into the skin.

I started here by applying a small layer of latex to my arm. While the latex was still wet I added broken up spaghetti. Using the hairdryer on a cold heat setting, I dried the latex so it went transparent. I then added more latex over the top to hold the spaghetti in place and dried once more. This process was carried out with all materials on the skin. 

The next process was to add colouring to the materials. I used Kryolan Supracolour in silver with a sponge. The application could have been made neater by using a small headed brush to get into the smaller areas. The colour was added once all latex has dried. You can also add Fullers Earth to the skin to create a mud like texture.

To remove from the skin use warm to hot water. As latex ideally should not be put down a sink, you should run some towel, paper or other, under the hot water and then slide over the skin. This will remove all latex. Wash excess colour off. It is normal that there should be a red mark where the materials have been.