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How did Oceanic artists decorate the human body?

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dilly bag; Aboriginal Australian art, Northern Territory, Australia — Oceanic art and architecture An Aboriginal Australian decorating a tightly woven dilly bag with white, yellow, and ochre (red) paints, Northern Territory, Australia, 1948.

In Oceanic cultures, the human body was considered a primary medium for art, receiving both permanent and removable decorations. Artists utilized the natural environment to create these adornments, incorporating materials such as shells, feathers, teeth, tusks, and plant fibers.1

Permanent Body Decoration

Permanent modifications were achieved through two main methods:
* Tattooing: Practiced widely across Polynesia and Micronesia, tattooing involved pricking pigment into the skin using implements shaped like miniature rakes. In New Zealand, the Maori practiced moko, which used a miniature bone adze to create complex, curvilinear grooves on the face. In Samoa, tattooing from the waist to the knee remains a significant rite of passage.23
* Scarification: In parts of New Guinea, artists practiced scarification, which was often enhanced by treatments designed to raise keloid welts.1

Removable Decoration

Beyond permanent marks, the body was frequently decorated for ceremonial and social purposes:
* Painting: Face and body painting were common, particularly in Melanesia, where vivid polychrome designs were applied to the skin.45
* Adornment: Individuals wore elaborate costumes, wigs, and headdresses. In many regions, people utilized natural materials like bird plumes, flowers, and animal teeth to enhance their appearance.41