Cultural Influence - African Body Art
Whilst I didn't use the influence of African Body art to inform my final face painting, it informed my first two initial designs. The following research on the practice of African Body art provided me with an insight to the intention and use of body art within African culture which later inspired my work.
African Body
art takes on many appearances depending on the culture and the influence to the
art making. As a result from the climate
and custom of Africa heavy body adornment of clothing and bulky materials are
difficult and therefore intern body art is promoted. Prior to the introduction of urban values to
Africa, scarification was extremely popular and is still found amongst elders
today. It’s a form of art intended to decorate and beautify the body through
the development of scars. The art produced from scarification is deemed as a
sign of your social significance with the puncturing or engravings marking
various values. The difference in the motif’s and scaring separates the tribes
of Africa. Depending on the tools and the use of organic saps and/or ashes some
scars are more profound and embellished than others. The depth of the scars
serves as a symbol to the power and endurance to the person acting as the
canvas as complicated designs reveal the individuals strength.
The Maasai people of East Africa and the
Turkana people of Kenya are also known for their body art. The Maasai people
layer beads around their waists and chests along with the use of red ocher as a
paint over their legs and through the braids in their hair. Similarly the
Turkana people use clothing and beadwork to depict the social status of an
individual. When ones entering puberty they were a unique, leather black cloak
ornamented with a circle of white beads.
Men shave intricate hairlines with the remaining hair coloured with mud.
