BODY PAINTING OF THE OMO VALLEY – ETHIOPIA

A fascinating contributor to the rich diversity of body art in this region is the absence of mirrors and reflections, as the Omo river water is cloudy. This definitely contributes to the artistic freedom and natural beauty of the artwork. In the painted bodies you can really feel the ritual and spiritual significance, and it’s clear tribes living in this valley have been using body art as a form of expression and social bonding experience for thousands of years. Never having or needing the ability to see yourself, as you see yourself reflected in others with their reaction to the patterns and designs on your face – the body art really becoming an extension of who they are.

"...A painting I created of a Hans Silvester photograph of two Surma men painting each other before a ceremony.

I thought this photograph captured a beautiful moment, the time and care taken to adorn each other and the creative expression captured, I found it inspirational and wanted to pay tribute to that specific moment but also the body painting of the Omo valley in general and its organic natural beautiful aesthetic."