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.
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.
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.
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