The Beauty Curse - Frock Paper Scissors

INK paint love
WORDS Rhianna Bull
PHOTOGRAPHY Fernata Photography
BODY Art, like the culture of drag in
Australia, is seen as an outrageous,
revolutionary and rebellious form of
artistic expression. To wear nothing more than
jeans, flower petal nipple-covers and a top made
out of body paint requires a person to throw their
inhibitions to the wind.
But is Australia ready for body art fashion to
enter the public domain?
Director for Rainbow Creations Body Art and
founder of the Australian Body Art Carnival, Ria
Clauss, says lack of forward thinking is the primary
reason for Australia’s prolonged development in
body art.
“When I first started body painting, people
thought I was painting cars, piercing people or a
tattooist. It’s taken society a long time to realise;
to educate them that body art is a serious practice
and should be taken on board as a new artistic
medium,” Clauss says. She describes the creative
effect it has on the wearer: “It’s like when you paint
a tiger on the face of a child they go around and
roar all day”.
Originally from the Sunshine Coast, Clauss’
obsession grew from her travels in the 1970s
throughout Africa and India. It was on home
soil however, that she became infatuated with
46 FROCK. paper. scissors
Aboriginal body painting culture. These intricate
designs of paint were encrusted with tales of tribal
hierarchy, children, wars and marriage to create a
unique identity.
“Our current translation of that is ‘emos’ and
‘goths’. This is a really good start because it means
that we are changing…Our creative expression is
taking over and soon we’ll all be going out face
painted,” she says.
On the Gold Coast, Isabelle Vesey went from
being a struggling artist to being the professional
make-up and body artist at Dracula’s cabaret
restaurant. She paints and applies special effects to
herself, actors and models featuring in the shows.
“Wearing make-up and applying a costume
allows me freedom; I can do and say things my
everyday self wouldn’t dare do…It’s the extended
version of your own personality, the wilder more
daring side…Management loves it when we dye
our hair bright colours, get a new make-up idea
or ink on a new tattoo. And we’re encouraged to
do so…Very few things are taboo and that’s what
makes it so special,” she says.
As a chunk of pink hair escapes her black
wig, Vesey admits there’s still a strong social
stigma towards tattooing, piercing and body art
modification despite its popularity among youth
of the twenty-first century. “Turning the body into
a canvas is so exciting because it is art that is always
with you, not hanging on a wall somewhere,” Vesey
says.
Author of The Fashioned Body, Joanne
Entwistle, analyses the role fashion plays in the
formation of modern identity through the body,
gender and sexuality. She says people of nonconformity,
who practice in alternate body fashion
or who go without clothing, defy the conventions
of their culture. She notes these minority groups
are often subversive of the basic social codes which
dictate cultural values and therefore risk exclusion,
scorn and ridicule by mainstream society.
It seems the assortment of gawks, mutters and
rude stares will continue to follow those brave
enough to enter the public realm in little more than
paint. You don’t have to be as extreme as risking
arrest for indecent exposure, but don’t let body art
be refined to the pages of history books.
Communicate your creativity with your body
as the canvas. Tomorrow, paint on a necklace, a
new tattoo or even just some orange lipstick, and
see what happens. You never know, you might
inspire others to do the same.
WX