Body as Surface

Body as Surface:

Bird gives us examples of how using the body as a canvas dates back as early as the fifth century. Both permanent and temporary mark making and artistic gestures have been used and applied in scarification and tattooing methods. Social, group identity, traditional ceremonies and personal expression have been the motivation for creating these artistic body designs. Like any other art, this type of art can be as simple as an outline to as elaborate as a highly detailed and intricate 2d painting.

Bird also mentions three female artists that use their bodies as surface and I looked into the French artist Orlan. I was intrigued by she used plastic surgery to change the appearance of her face to mimic specific works of art. I found this interesting article :

“But is it her aim to change the idea of beauty? "I am not sure I can change such a thing, but I can produce images that are different from those we find in comics, video games, magazines and TV shows. There are other ways to think about one's body and one's beauty. If you were to describe me without anyone being able to see me, they would think I am a monster, that I am not fuckable. But if they see me, that could perhaps change."

Orlan's operating table became her baroque theatre. Designers, such asPaco Rabanne and Issey Miyake, created costumes for Orlan to wear during the surgeries. Poetry was read and music played while she lay fully conscious. Each surgery was captured on video, broadcast in galleries and sometimes fed to audiences around the globe via live satellite link-ups.” http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/2009/jul/01/orlan-performance-artist-carnal-art

Orlan is quoted in this video saying:

“Materiality doesn't interest me; I’m after the idea, and how I can materialize the idea to get to its essence.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQ1Ph-Pprj4

I think as women we are subjected to a predetermined scrutiny pertaining to how our surface looks and we are easily judged on surface alone. This is internalized without any thought of how we do it to ourselves and participate in the grand façade. It seems like, mainly, beautiful women artists have been the ones that have been brave enough to undress and reveal more then their flesh but their desires to be appreciated for their naked, revealing, and thought provoking ideas. 
At least this is how I view the three women mentioned along with Marina Abramovic .
For myself, I have used my body as surface and have one small tattoo that is meaningful to me. I like the idea of painting my body and projecting images onto my body both which I have only briefly tried and never fully explored.
I have seen some beautiful temporary and permanent body art. I amm always amazed at the time, blood and pain that goes into tattooing. I cant resist showing a few below and one meme from FaceBook. the first three are Gesine Marwedel and the rest are google images.

http://www.gesine-marwedel.de/galerie/