body art

Body art is a form of art where the human body itself serves as the medium. This can include permanent alterations like tattoos and scarification, or more temporary forms such as body painting and elaborate hairstyles.12

Historically, body art has served various purposes, including magical protection, identification of social status or group membership, and aesthetic decoration. Practices like scarification can indicate lineage or physiological status, as seen among the Yoruba and Nuba people. Tattoos, with evidence dating back to 3300 BCE, have been used across many cultures for protection, identification, and adornment.32

While tattooing was once forbidden in Europe with the rise of Christianity, it persisted elsewhere and was later rediscovered by Europeans during the age of exploration. Today, body art encompasses a wide range of practices, with a notable revival in tattooing and body piercing in recent decades.3