Photographs: Heinz-Peter Bader/Reuters
Creativity is the greatest expression of liberty, it is said, and artistes across the ages have innovated new modes to express their creative best. Although the art of body painting finds its roots in many prominent historical civilizations, it has been revived significantly, particularly in the West, in the past 50 years.
At the same time, the cult of body painting has faced tremendous social criticism, terming it as promotion of exhibitionism and nudism. But that has certainly not discouraged the connoisseurs of this vibrant art form, who claim it to be a creative way of dissolving individual identities to become a canvass to showcase a collective identity, often meant to advance social causes.
The 15th World Bodypainting Festival, which was held at Poertschac, Austria, from July 6 to 8 this year, is the first of its kind and the biggest bodypainting fest in the world. It draws the best two hundred body painting artist teams and models, as well as tens of thousands of visitors, from all over the world every year.
Rediff.com presents some amazing photographs from the 'Mecca of Bodypainting'.
In this picture, a model poses during the annual World Bodypainting Festival in Poertschach, on July 7.
The world's biggest bodypainting event takes place from July 6 to 8 at lake Woerthersee in Austria's southern Carinthia province.
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IN PHOTOGRAPHS: When bodies became canvasses!
Photographs: Heinz-Peter Bader/Reuters
A model poses during the annual World Bodypainting Festival in Poertschach, Austria.
IN PHOTOGRAPHS: When bodies became canvasses!
Photographs: Heinz-Peter Bader/Reuters
Models pose during the annual World Bodypainting Festival in Poertschach, Austria.
IN PHOTOGRAPHS: When bodies became canvasses!
Photographs: Heinz-Peter Bader/Reuters
A model poses for photographers during the annual World Bodypainting Festival in Poertschach, Austria.
IN PHOTOGRAPHS: When bodies became canvasses!
Photographs: Heinz-Peter Bader/Reuters
An artist airbrushes a design on a model during the annual World Bodypainting Festival in Poertschach, Austria.
IN PHOTOGRAPHS: When bodies became canvasses!
Photographs: Heinz-Peter Bader/Reuters
A model poses during the annual World Bodypainting Festival in Poertschach, Austria.
IN PHOTOGRAPHS: When bodies became canvasses!
Photographs: Heinz-Peter Bader/Reuters
A model poses during the annual World Bodypainting Festival in Poertschach, Austria.
IN PHOTOGRAPHS: When bodies became canvasses!
Photographs: Heinz-Peter Bader/Reuters
A model poses during the annual World Bodypainting Festival in Poertschach, Austria.
IN PHOTOGRAPHS: When bodies became canvasses!
Photographs: Heinz-Peter Bader/Reuters
A model jumps as she poses during the annual World Bodypainting Festival in Poertschach, Austria.
IN PHOTOGRAPHS: When bodies became canvasses!
Photographs: Heinz-Peter Bader/Reuters
An artist paints a model during the annual World Bodypainting Festival in Poertschach, Austria.
IN PHOTOGRAPHS: When bodies became canvasses!
Photographs: Heinz-Peter Bader/Reuters
A model poses for photographers during the annual World Bodypainting Festival in Poertschach, Austria.
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