Shifting human reality with bodies and paint
Ancient art is taken to new heights through the theme ‘spiritual beings’
BodySpectra, a one-night, body-painting and prosthetics extravaganza, will showcase this ancient art form in Cape Town this week. Hosted by the art department at the School of Media and Creative Arts at CityVarsity, the title of this year’s 19th showcase — traditionally chosen by second-year students — is “spiritual beings”. The original aim was to introduce body painting, make-up and prosthetics to the art department and give students a taste of a high-pressure, live event with an audience. Now it is a final exam and the high point of the students’ year. In the hours before the event starts, a sprawl of young bodies in various positions and stages of undress will be on a floor covered in plastic. The air will be sharp with the smell of raw alcohol and hairspray. There will be an intermittent, sibilant hiss from an airbrush and the steady hum of its compressor. Things will go wrong, models won’t arrive, tears will fall and moods will oscillate. After the show, the students will take...
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