by Kimberley Heit

Created on: May 11, 2008   Last Updated: September 03, 2010

This article provides a brief history on some of the most popular forms of body art, including; body painting, tattooing, scarring and piercing. Research suggests that many of these practices have been occuring since ancient times.

The human body has served as a walking canvas for many reasons. The most common include;  demonstrating belonging to a group, for religious rituals or celebrations, and simply for asethetic appeal. 

Body painting:

Body painting is probably the most popular form of body art. There are numerous historical examples of body painting. Native Americans like the Cherokee painted their face and body when they performed the rain dance, to look intimidating before a battle and to celebrate victories. Japanese Geisha women painted their faces white and their lips red to perform. Ancient European warriors from 55BC painted their faces blue before a battle. This was portrayed in the movie Braveheart.

The Wodaabe people from Niger in Africa use body paint at a ceremony known as Geerewol which is basically a social meet for young single people. The men dance and pull faces and the women then select the men they are interested in. Body painting is also especially important to the Nuba people in Africa. Mostly the men paint themselves in the colors and style of their clan.

In more recent times body painting has been used primarily for performance purposes. In the 1960's artists began to use body paint in performance art. In the 1970's the rock band Kiss painted their faces for the shock value of looking outrageous, wicked.Today body painting continues to be used in performance art. Artists have their whole bodies covered in paint which is applied by an airbrush gun. The ordinary person is also exposed to body painting. At festivals and fairs children can have their faces painted and at sporting events adults paint their faces with their team's colors.

Tattooing:

Long before the electric tattooing machine was invented in 1891 many cultures created tattoos with needles by hand. Japan, Alaska and Ukraine are some of the first countries to use tattoos. Tattoos gained popularity in western nations in the 1960s.

Scarring:

Scarring is different to tattooing in that no pigment was inserted, but permanent impressions are made under the skin in a similar manner. People from islands in the South Pacific used thorns and wood splinters to create marks on their skin.

Piercing:

Piercing isn't just a modern trend favored by teenagers and celebrities, its first known occurrence was over 5000 years ago. A mummified body with pierced ears was discovered from this time. Today ear piercings are common among western men and women.In Ethiopia they have lip piercings which stretch to fit wooden discs the size of CDs. Bride's with large wooden discs are in high demand. Some piercings do appear to be a more modern invention, for example belly button piercing is a recent development.

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