Face and Body Art Day (International)

International Face and Body Art Day is February 1st

This is a day to celebrate the amazing self expression that is face and body art, both temporary and permanent. The exceptional work some people are able to create using face paint is an art worth celebrating! Honor this day by checking out some amazing face and body artists or trying to do some face painting yourself!

Face and body art is painting, tattoos, piercings, branding, or scalpelling on the human body. Face and body art date back to the Stone Age 10,000 B.C.

Face and body art are known for capturing how humans relate to experiences, i.e. celebrations, transitions in life, or identifying a person’s place within society etc. 

Art(ifacts)

• After World War II, a new body of art was on the rise in the early ‘60’s and 70’s that questioned the commercialization of art.
• In 1966- Bruce Nauman created a body of work called “Self-Portrait as a Fountain.” His body formed the body of the fountain and his mouth served as the fountainhead.
• In 2000- The American Museum of Natural History curated an exhibition called “Body Art: Marks of Identity.”

Types of Face and Body Art

Performance-Related Body Art

In 1974- Marina Abramovic performed “Rhythm 0”

Body Painting

In 1958- painting of New Zealander Joanne Gair in trompe-loeil style
(Trompe l'oeil- is the visual illusion, where the viewer believes the painting is 3D versus 2D. This type of artistic optical illusion is commonly seen in easel, mural and architectural paintings, as well as in sculpture and architecture. Most trompe l'oeil styles are set in realistic true-to-life imagery and are based on confusion caused by the deceptive application of the rules of linear perspective. The term itself is a French expression, meaning "deceives the eye," and was first coined in the 17th century, during the era of Baroque art.)
In 1992- Annie Leibovitz photographed Demi Moore’s ‘birthday suit’

Tattoo Art

Dating back to the Neolithic Art era. “The oldest known person with tattooed skin is a mummified man of the Chilean Chinchorro culture (c.6000 BCE), while the oldest European tattoo is on the body of "Otzi the Iceman" (c.3100 BCE, South Tyrol Museum of Archeology, Bolzano). Modern tattoo art dates from the mid-18th century when explorers came into contact with tattooed Indians and Pacific islanders - the word tattoo actually derives from the Polynesian word "tatau".” Tattoo art is a permanent mark or design on the body.

Face Painting (including makeup)

Dating back to the Paleolithic Art era, which at the time identified who was a shaman or tribal chief. Later it became common as tribal art such as ‘war paint’. Modern face paint refers to cosmetic or prosthetic makeup.

Mime and Live Statutes

Mime comes from the Greek word ‘Actor’. Inspired by 14th century Japanese Noh Theatre, 16th century Italian Commedia, and the 19th century in Paris.

Nail Art

Nail art dates as far back as Ancient Babylonia, around 3200 BCE. Nail art is any form of decorative art applied to fingernails and toenails. It includes nail polish, UV gel, hybrid coatings like Shellac, processes like water marbling and stencilling, as well as artificial extensions.

Well known Artists (Past and Present)

• Choo-San
• Gesine Mardedel
• Tracy Craig
• Cecilia Paredes
• Bella Volen
• Johannes Stotter
• Trina Merry  
• Emma Hack
• Jen Kossin
• Nicole Botte
• Jen Gaita Siciliano

So whether you are an artist, an art lover, or a person who likes to participate in face and body art - go out be a part of the experience and explore the world of face and body art and take pictures. #internationalfaceandbodyartday