Exhibition to feature tattoos and piercings
The good, the bad and the ugly sides of body decoration will go on display in a confronting photographic exhibition that will open at the University of the Sunshine Coast Gallery on Thursday 16 October at 6pm.
The “Tattoos and Piercings: a Human Canvas” exhibition, touring from the Port Macquarie Hastings Regional Gallery in NSW, will be officially opened by Hot 91 radio presenter Sami Muirhead.
USC Gallery Curator Dawn Oelrich said the exhibition was a photographic survey of the subcultures associated with tattoos and body piercing.
“The human canvas is an interesting concept that has usually been treated outside the usual artistic practice. But body art is now an accepted part of popular culture that cannot be ignored,” Ms Oelrich said.
“The images range from detailed close-ups of piercings, Celtic designs, Bandito bikers and tattooing application to fashionable and glamour subjects.
“Some of it is quite beautiful, but I have to admit some images are a bit confronting.”
The exhibition acknowledges that body art is a strong creative movement that has extended beyond the sub-cultures it is usually associated with.
“Tattoos are created either by copyright stencil work or freehand. Tattoo artists need to be creative and finely-skilled to maintain a high standard of work,” Ms Oelrich said.
“Piercing was historically identified with royalty. Egyptian pharaohs pierced their navels as a rite of passage and Roman soldiers pierced their nipples as a sign of virility.
“Nowadays, everyone from rock stars and football players to grandmothers and the checkout boy at the supermarket could have some form of body art.
“Often body art is associated with an event – turning 18 or 50 – or to mark a major life change.”
The exhibition will continue until Saturday 8 November and admission is free.
The USC Gallery is open from 10am to 4pm Mondays to Saturdays. The 2008 USC Gallery Exhibition Program is proudly supported by major sponsor Coastline BMW.