Body art is not a new idea, it has been around for a long time.  Many primitive cultures have used body art for generations.   Bodypainting was used to express sorrow (Indian Culture), or as the distinguishing mark of a tribe.  During war it was often used to frighten off the enemy.

According to Wikipedia - One of the oldest examples of tattooing is “Ötzi the Iceman,” a frozen mummy dating from the Neolithic period (circa 3300 BC).  Otzi exhibits tattoos that resemble small dashes along the lumbar region and on the legs. Of the 57 tattoos he exhibited, most were located on what today are considered to be acupuncture points.  Thus leading  anthropologists to believe the tattoos were used for medicinal purposes.

Body art can be a temporary decoration for a ceremonial purpose or take  a more permanent tattoo form, etched into the skin.  The modern version of Body Painting lacks the deeper cultural heritage and is often used for sensationalism and exhibitionism.  There are festivals dedicated exclusively to Bodypaintingincluding the World Bodypainting festival in Seeboden, Austria.

In a recent campaign by Air New Zealand, Baggage Handlers and cabin crew delivering the safety brief were “dressed” in bodypaint.  I guess that is one way of getting the attention of the passengers.

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