Body art..a reflection of culture and lifestyle

Body painting is a form of body art, and has probably been around since the beginning of civilization. In almost every tribalism culture, body painting was performed during ceremonies or merely just for the beauty of it. Back then they used clay and other natural pigments .unlike tattoos body painting is temporary painted on to the human skin and it last for few hours. Body painting can also be referred to as temporary tattoos.

Body painting was very common used in 12^th and mid of 14^th century by religious practitioners. This is an example portraying gothic culture. Traditionally body painting survives in primitive and indigenous tribal cultures. Body painting used clay and other natural pigments; mehendi a form of non permanent body painting uses henna dyes.
Since the 1960's, body painting emerged as an actual art form. However, there is the never-ending discussion about its social acceptability because body painting practically always involves nudity. 

                 

There has been a revival of body decoration in the western society. These modern forms of body painting include many sensationalist and exhibitionist forms. The types of pigments and body paints used vary from region to region. Clay body paints were among the most common types- as was henna, a reddish brown pigment, in South America tribal used another charcoal another black pigment called huito; an orange dye from fruit seed. Body painting is used as a medium to exhibit the expressions of people. Many people express their thoughts, aggression, beliefs through body art, conveying their messages through visual medium.

Body painting has evolved its space in the commercial arena. Many artists work professionally as the body painters in the television commercials and film arena especially in science fictions with more elaborate alien creations being body painted. Still advertising also use body painting with body painted look being published in magzines.