Bodies of art line up
Sat 05 June 2010
Liesl D'Rozario, Bachelor of Journalism
Human bodies, cars and street pavements acted as canvases of fantasy at the Australian Body Art Carnivale in Eumundi over the weekend of May 14 to 16, 2010.
Hundreds of artists, models and volunteers from all over Australia gathered at the three-day event to compete and celebrate art in all its forms.
In its third year running, the event was bigger and better than ever with more people, more competitions, more talent and over $13,000 worth of prizes won.
There were 10 competitions over the three days, in the mediums of art and photography, with this year’s theme being fantasy.
Entries were open to anyone that was interested, and no previous experience was necessary...all you needed was a canvas.
The Brush and Sponge and Airbrush categories of the body art competit
ion were held on Saturday, along with the Wicked Camper Vehicle Art and a sunset street party in Memorial Drive.
Face and body painter Beth Joyce entered the body art competition for the first time this year, and said the decision to enter with her model Rachel Conway was spur of the moment.
“I’ve only been painting for about 18 months and I just told myself, ‘yes I’ll do it, because I thought if I don’t do it this year I’d be kicking myself’,” Ms Joyce said.
“I know most of the other painters that are here, and it’s really nice to be at an event like this with this sort of atmosphere and just suck it all up for all your worth.”
Ms Joyce said her artwork was inspired by her love of the ocean.
“I’ve always liked the ocean, and colour-wise it was perfect because it used a lot of different colours,” Ms Joyce said.
Graphic designer Nina Bainikoro was also a first time entrant in the body art competition, having only one month’s experience in body painting.
Ms Bainikoro said being a full-time mother restricted her from being able to do a lot of the things she loved, but when she saw the advertisement for body painting she decided to give it a go.
“Body painting is very much an expression for me,” Ms Bainikoro said.
“My artwork represents me and my past...all the stuff I went through as a child...Together we are like one.
“The best part for me is when my art is all washed away and my past gets washed off too.”
The human canvases each took five and a half hours to paint, and were showcased at the end of the day with a parade on the catwalk before winners were announced.
Australian Body Art Carnivale event manager Danielle Taylor ran the event for the first time this year, and said it was not only a great idea for Eumundi and the Sunshine Coast, but it was also something that had never been done before in Australia.
“It was just an opportunity that looked like a lot of fun,” Ms Taylor said.
“It was unique and something different we could do that not everybody else is doing...and is a really enjoyable, really great community event run by community organisations and just something that’s great to be a part of.”
The Masked Gallery Art Walk was held on Friday night to commence the festival, in which five prestigious galleries of Eumundi were brought together and celebrated.
“This was the first year we had the masked gallery walk, to further involve all the businesses in town and to showcase what amazing art Eumundi has to offer,” Ms Taylor said.
“It opened the event with a bit of a bang.”
Sunday made way for the Snazaroo Face Painting competition, wearable art and the Wicked Camper Show and Shine competitions.
There was also a feast of other entertainment, including live music, world-class street performers, and children’s workshops that ran over the entire three days.
The Australian Body Art Carnivale is purely a community event, with any profits put back into the running of the event for the following year.
Various partners, including Queensland Events and the Sunshine Coast Regional Council, funded the event.
Numerous sponsors in the community also supported the event’s organisation and operation.
“There was a lot of work in it, a lot of work setting it up and pulling it down,” Ms Taylor said.
“So it was a very big process and lots and lots of people that donated their time.”
Next year’s event is expected to be the biggest so far, with new ideas and expansion already being considered.
“We’re definitely looking at some new ideas for the next event,” Ms Taylor said.
“Probably refining what we’ve got and looking at attracting even more competitors and a higher quality.”
Image(s) designed by Lisel D'Rozario
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Submitted Comments
Nice Liesl, this is a great article. Very intriguing and I like the photos.
Alexa Roberts