The Body as a Canvas
Panamanian Artist Alexis Benalcazar
I believe there is an artistic spirit in everyone. The spirit is felt in different ways, but we all have one. While mine doesn’t usually produce art, I enjoy seeing the beauty (or not) or other people’s vision.
Spending the day at an arts festival is a wonderful opportunity to see a local artworks and meet today’s artists. Being a part of the art scene is exciting.
Next week, the Feria de Arte in Boquete, Panama is exploring the artistic spirit with a exciting demonstration on a very unique canvas.
Panamanian artist, Alexis Benalcazar uses a human body as his canvas to create his one of a kind pieces. Some would consider him a performance artist, because the act of painting is part of the art piece.
Benalcazar is drawing upon the recent popularity of tattoos and expanding beyond his usual fabric canvas. While his piece is temporary, it is very emotional and makes his artistic statement.
Body art, has been part of many cultures for years. Otzi, the Ice Man found in caves dating back to the 4th century B.C. , Egyptian mummies and even Julius Caesar were all tattooed. Some cultures tattoo for spiritual rights of passage, memorials or magical beliefs.
The permanent inking of the skin has become fashionable in recent years. More artists are learning the techniques and improvements in inks and equipment have made it safer.
However you feel about getting body art, it is a part of our rich cultural and artistic heritage. Whether temporary, or permanent it is an expression of creativity and artistic spirit.
Everyday my local tattoo shop is creating art for people. It’s an artistic collaboration between the artist and the patron whose body is the canvas. I don’t have to wait for the next arts festival, I could go to a shop and see what’s being done right now.
Do you have a tattoo? I don’t. I’m not sure what kind of image my artistic spirit would create that I would want on me forever.
If you have a tattoo, what did your inner artist create? I’d love to hear about the significance of the image and your experience. All the best, Joy
saludos colega.¡’¡’ desde david
This is an unusual art form, at least it’s temporary. I’ll go to the show, maybe I can have a painting done on me. I’ll have a lizard done on my shoulder, maybe crawling over from my back. Whatever that means, I’d love it, if only for a couple days. Thanks for the info, Joy, I’ll be there.