Brave New World: Experimenting with 'Scarification'

Technique:
1) Apply rice etc with matik/spirit gum
2) Dry with hairdryer
3) Apply latex
4) Dry with hairdryer
5) Cover with rosey/reddish colour to block colour of items and latex then powder
6) Then match to skin colour/discolour scars
7) Powder to set

Those these aren't the best images, here is my first attempt at recreating scarification with latex, rice and beans, foundation apply over the top to hide colour and match to the skin.

This was my first time doing anything like this, I know there is a lot I need to improve on but for my first attempt, I'm fairly pleased. I'm excited to try more methods to achieving this look and improving my skills to make it as realistic as it can be. With much more practice, I hope to include a more refined version of designs like this in one of my final pieces.

Brave New World: Asia Body Modification

Nose Plugs

(http://i2.asntown.net/ha/mix3/weirdnosepiercing/Apatani-nose-plugs.jpg)

This wasn't very common trend and no longer exists today, it was used by the Apatani as a way to make their women seem less attractive so that they would not be kidnapped. Unlike the African tribes who used body modification  to highlight beauty, the Apatani used body modification to make their women uglier and less likely to be targeted.


Neck Rings

(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/03/Kayan_woman_with_neck_rings.jpg)

Neck rings were also used in Asia as a way to make the neck more elegant and swan-like, highlighting beauty through modifications as in Africa.

Kayan now has increased use of neck rings, originally, they were not used from a young age, but has become a way to give their people a better life, many have moved into 'fake villages' set up for tourist viewing, though the way of life is better and they are more looked after, neck rings are popular demand as it highlights a physical difference between their lifestyle and those visiting.


Tooth Modification: Blackening Teeth

(http://cdn.omg-facts.com/2012/12/19/85f95272c5e9c999e69711913434b7d9.jpg)

In Japan, having black teeth was high sexualised and was common for prostitutes to blacken their teeth before performing a sexual act. It was used as a way to protect their teeth, and although the ingredients used weren't to most protective, the idea was picked up in Vietnam where it became popular and the mix used was proven to protect teeth enamel.


Though none of these ideas jump out at me for a final design in my project, I will look into involving them and make-up techniques I could used to create them, it would be interesting to develop further ideas, though nose plugs do not strike me as something that would be used in a fashion based look.


Reference:
Arnold Rubin (1995) Marks of Civilization: Artistic Transformations of the Human Body. Regents of the University of California. Singapore.
Karl Groning (2001) Decorated Skin: A World Survey of Body Art. Thames and Hudson. Germany.
Rufus C.Camphausen (1997) Return of the Tribal: A Celebration of Body Adornment. Park Street Press, Rochester, Vermont. India.

Brave New World: African Body Modification

Scarification
(Mark of the Crocodile)

(http://www.cvltnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/scarification_2.jpg)

Listed below are the areas in which scarification has been found to be used by the tribes living there:
- Nuba
- Shilluk
- DR Congo

Many tribes have been studied to better understand the meaning behind scarification as a ritual, and it has been discovered there are a variety of different reasons behind the marks created, though there are still a vast amount of similarities despite the distance and lack of communications.

It is very common for a person to under-go scarification as a right of passage, for some it's a mark of reaching adulthood and for other there are certain areas or patterns used to mark different achievements they have met in life, for example, giving birth. It is also thought of as a way to separate ones self from other cultures and animals.

In some tribes, an individual will receive a line of dotted scars down their torso, one for every person they have killed, used as a way to prove their strength over others and warn or scare other tribes away from their land and any possible fights.

Though it's also thought that scars are common for signifying heightened sexuality, mostly in females.


Piercings and Stretching

(http://www.ezakwantu.com/Lip%20Plug%20African%2004.jpg)

It has become common in Western culture for people to have a variety of different piercings all over their bodies, many stretching their ear lobes, much fewer stretching other areas of their body. However, African tribes are well known for stretching areas of their body as a sign of beauty.

African tribes commonly use lip plates and stretch both their upper and/or bottom lip, though most have stopped upper lip stretching.

They are also known for using rings around their necks to stretch their neck upwards, a long and slender neck is also considered beautiful and elegant and makes a female more desirable.


Skull Binding
(Lidompo)

(http://www.octopuspiercing.hr/cms/sites/default/files/4092929561_7ff91e7ba9.jpg)

Though not many tribes were involved with this particular body modification, it is also a well known one. From a young age, mostly female children would have their head bound to make their skull appear longer and more elegant. Very elaborate hairstyles would also be used to adorn the head and make it appear taller, though as skull binding was eradicated, the hairstyles remained to imitate the effect.


For my project, I am very interested in recreating the look of scarification with make up and creating patterns over the body via this method. If I achieve the look well, I would be very happy and excited to use it in one of my final looks.


Reference:
Arnold Rubin (1995) Marks of Civilization: Artistic Transformations of the Human Body. Regents of the University of California. Singapore.
Karl Groning (2001) Decorated Skin: A World Survey of Body Art. Thames and Hudson. Germany.
Rufus C.Camphausen (1997) Return of the Tribal: A Celebration of Body Adornment. Park Street Press, Rochester, Vermont. India.

Brave New World: Introduction to Brief

"This unit will introduce students to the contexts relevant to the research, design of special effects make-up and prosthetics processes for a fashion led production. By exploring how changing its shape and texture can alter the appearance of the human face and body, students will develop an awareness of materials to distort, age and texture the skin.  This will be used as the basis for creative design development and establish the relationship between research, design and realisation. Students will investigate, develop and design in response to a creative fashion brief. The unit encourages specialist technical development underpinned by an understanding of the principles of make-up and basic prosthetics for conceptual beauty design and realisation. Students will develop an understanding of how complex techniques can be used creatively and will be encouraged to expand on an enquiring approach to the technical development of creative make-up for a specific beauty and fashion industry context."

(Southampton Solent: My Course. (2013) Make-Up for Special Effects (FMS507) [Online} Available from: http://mycourse.solent.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=8028 [Accessed: 15th October 2013])

I am very excited to get stuck into this project, I think most people expected blood and gore from this unit, but I'm thrilled we get to experiment with another side of special effects make-up via manipulating the body and creating a beautiful look out of an idea which itself might be undesired because of it's practice.

Although I already have some initial ideas, I'm going to explore and research more, practicing as much as possible to achieve the best outcomes before creating my final designs and transferring them onto a person to create my final looks.