Experimentation...

Here i experimented further with using face masks but i concentrated on one area of the face - i applied the mask only around the mouth and
Painted over it with supra colour - i feel concentrating on one area would create a contrast between the skin and the paint and create a more striking image..

Initial Editorial moodboard....

Modern reference..

I found a menswear editorial named 'Tribes' which was photographed by Rene Habermacher and styled by Jean Luc Francaise for Sang Bleu Magazine. I was captivated by their take on the tribal look and how they had transformed it into something modern using a clever mix of materials and makeup...


Leather , spikes and metal are used heavily to create a dark and almost macabre look. The images are very primal and striking with a clear tribal reference. In the first image below i love the mix of more traditional tribal makeup with very modern materials.

 

Animal Furr reminds me of and icelandic tribe or the innuit. The use of tattooing in his work has a strong refernce to the tribes and a primal feeling.

 

The image below is my favourite of the editorial. The combination of  the leather jacket and metal mask with traditional beads and ivory create a very striking and eclectic tribal look. In particular the mask has connotations of mark making and scarification on the face. I also like how he has chosen to use mainly black to dress his models, giving the tribal look a modern twist and drawing our eye towards his clever use of materials.

 

 

 

 

 

These next images by Habermacher are entitled  "Santorini" and were styled by Takufumi Kawasaki for Pen Japan magazine. I love the contrast between the two sets of images and how although these images are very understated and simple , the tirbal reference is subtle but still visible...

 

 

 

 

 

Studying all of these images has made me think particularly about my use of materials,how to create an editorial look and how to get the right balance of subtlety and striking.

 

 

 

I found several videos of the scarification process on youtube.. althought i found them hard to watch i also foun watching the process very interesting and revealing as to the lengths tribes will go to obtain identity/status or show thier beliefs and how important this is within tribal culture. One example of the videos i found is below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5Fm0ORKTVQ



scarification images...

 

 

 

 

Scarification...

It seems the main purpose of African scarification is to enhance a personsbeauty, but scars can also indicate bravery,  group identity, or mark stages in a person’s life....


I have found a few images of different cultural masks which show sacrification patterns on the face...

 

 

Makonde tribe - Use scarification to prevent abduction into slavery.

 

 

 

 

Tabwa tribe - Used to identify themselves to localitites and display social status. Elaborate and ornamental patterns and lines across the face also demonstrate that a person has become a complete adult after being inscribed.The distinctive braided hairstyle of the tribe is also shown in this tribal mask.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Baule tribe - Use the type of scars shown on this mask to protect young children from harm.

 

 

I found these images of typical maori tattoos on the following website: http://www.vanishingtattoo.com/tattoo_museum/history.html

I have found this site particularly useful! Its gives a detailed insight into tattooing history of many different tribes....

Below i have started to experiment by drawing tribal pattern onto magazines...

Tribal tattoos....

A few images i found whilst researching the history of tribal tattoos...

In particular i find the tatoos and markings of the Maori tribe fascinating...

I really like the simplicity of the tattoo in the image above of a Maori Noble Woman. It has made me consider how markings and pattern can be used in an understated way but still create impact.

Experimentation with mudmask /aqua colour mixture on the face and hair...

Mud masks..

Using mud masks on the face i found was much more effective than using flour and water as it dried on the skin creating a really interesting cracked and patchy texture. I scratched into the surface using a stick and also stuck the webbed fabric onto the mud mask whilst wet to create a new and exciting texture which reminds me of scales..

Once the mud mack had dried fully i painted over it using Supra colour....

and added white line...

 By Layering the materials and painting over the dried mud i was able to create a really textural surface on the face, applying the paint and mud in a quick way enabled the scratched marks to show through...

 I Found these fabrics in Fabric land, they all reminded me of tribal dress and pattern... i particularly was attracted to the orange stripe design for its warm tones and rich colours, it almost reminds me of a sunset!

 I chose this fabric as i thought it would create a really interesting pattern if layered on the face or hair with other materials...the patterning of it reminded me of a cracked and dry ground...

These images of The Suri Tribe of South West Ethiopia i found on Pinterest/Flickr. The use of colour and line really drew me in, i love the contrast between the bright orange and the rich skin tone of the boy in the image above.

This image is one of my favourite so far! This Tribal boy has applied mud to hydrate and toughen the skin. Altho not used for aesthetic purposes i find the textural quality of the surface really fascinating and i love how you can still see the skin around the eyes. It reminds me of the image i took of the cracked dry ground whilst in Monument Valley! 

The idea of using spots or dots is really simple but very striking, they have been applied here in a haphazard and inaccurate way which is very effective. Below i have begun to experiment with black and white and have painted the face black using Aqua color and applied dots and pattern over the top using white. 

I definitely want to incorporate dots into my designs but i need to experiment with different  materials and apply the aqua colour thickly to create a completely black surface which will result in a more striking look...

Here i have started to experiment with texture and mark making by scratching into sand paper, below i used a mixture of flour, water and ground coffee granuals to create a paste. I found it to be a bir too wet and the marks did not show up as i had hoped!

I attempted to make a thicker paste that would set on the face, this time using icing sugar and cocoa powder which is alot more effective. I applied it quickly and thickly using my fingers and again  i used a cocktail stick to scratch into the surface which created really interesting texture and line.