Behind the Paint

The 2008 World Body Painting Festival, Daegu
Photos and story ©Matthew Golem

When I noticed a splashy television advertisement at a bus stop rest stop, I was shocked and perplexed by yet another contradiction to what I know about this country. Anyone who has visited Korea’s beaches has noticed that many native Koreans enjoy their time in the water with a bathing suit and T-shirt. In defense of harmful UV rays? Somehow I doubt it. Walking your favourite beaches in a bikini top may still be accompanied by looks of varying disapproval from some Koreans. Over the last few years, one may have noticed, however, a comfortable transition towards bikinis and daringly small bottoms. Following this festival it is more apparent that, to quote Bob Dylan, “…times, they are a changin.”

Nude models, paint, and music. What a perfect recipe! How could you not run screaming to such an exceptional event?

Originally conceived in the small town of Seeboden, Austria by artist and founder Alex Barendregt, hosting the 2008 World Body Painting Festival is an ambitious and surprising undertaking for Korea. This 12th international body painting event, never before held in Asia, is a dramatic step forward for culture and art in Korea and bridges between a diverse palette of cultures.

Events ranged from body painting workshops and classes, children’s face painting, daily live music, Polish Colour Ballet and of course the painting competition with evening stage shows showcasing the living art. One evening featured a Fantasy Ball consisting of costumes painted and created to mesmerize the party goers. The live music acts were both Korean and international artists including some big name Korean pop icons such as Peep Show, Jewely and Lee Seung Gi 이승기. The Daegu event company also got some Korean school girls all riled up about a Korean professional soccer playing heart throb expected to make a special appearance. Imagine waiting to meet the Beatles circa 1962; the energy was nearly identical.

The new Asian champions were awarded in different many categories including: brush and sponge, airbrush, special effects body painting, face painting and special effects make up. Sixty artist teams from fourteen nations with 18,000 visitors to the Daegu World Cup Stadium visited the festival over the three main days. On Day one and two, themes given to the artists were "Myths & Fairy Tales" and on the final day,
"Future World".

The healthy green grass of the stadium forced delicious smelling air into my body as I entered a simmering outdoor studio. Beautiful female and male models provided daring canvases for their artists to give Asia her first taste of European style modern fantasy and eroticism. Clothing guidelines for models were a minimum of a G-string so photographers were gurgling with anticipation. Some models were comfortable in only paint above the belly button, while others were more coy and chose to sport somewhat obtrusive breast stickers or cups to further conceal intimate personal regions.

Each day began with a mostly public view of the works in progress, often difficult to find a clear view past many curious visitors. It was fascinating to watch the transition from a recognizable person to a finished work of art and veiled identity. Following closing night, I was invited by model and teacher, Brandi Monsma, to celebrate with some of the creative team. I visited with many of the artists and brave models; many of whom I did not recognize until they described in detail how they appeared when I photographed them. It was one of the most unusual experiences I have enjoyed in Korea.

Tickets were reasonably priced at 20,000 KRW for single day and 50,000 KRW for three day passes. The Korean promoters likely knew the event would draw a crowd of avid photographers and charged 200,000KRW for a photo pass. This provided special photo privileges: access to a combination of delectable photographic subjects as well as a calm background. Included in this fee is a copy of a catalog of photographs submitted to the festival organizers afterwards.

The non-pass holding public came surprisingly prepared with not only high power zoom lenses but also aluminum step ladders to minimize their less than ideal sniper locations. This is the only country in which I have witnessed this. Once finished a walk along the path of coloured back drops, models were hurried away to safety, escorted by tight security. Amateur paparazzi did their best to capture the moving subjects who occasionally entertained the request to slowly approach a pesky barrier.


The limited advertising prior to the event and extremely confusing website were problems for the event. I met a surprisingly young Mr. Barendregt to personally thank him for inviting me to cover the festival. I asked him why I could not find details on the website about scheduling prior to the week. An English speaking organizer at the stadium shared helpful scheduling details I needed days before. Barendregt humbly informed me that two weeks before the event, his Daegu event company colleagues had not given even he and fellow Austrians vital information he needed to feel comfortable. Is why there weren’t more foreigners at this extraordinary display of talent and creativity? The lack of communication between cultures seemed not to have an effect on his enthusiasm for next year’s event in Asia.

The maps available on the event website fortunately did feature Korean text, which made transportation to and from the stadium less aggravating for this foreigner. For other events, English only map text, has made getting a taxi from a subway or train station much more frustrating.

Some of the artists make a living by painting bodies and walk away with as much as 3,000,000 KRW in prize money per category. Canadian Jinny Houle won first prize for the brush and sponge category. This was particularly impressive because her participation in the event was a surprise to her. She had originally been selected to be on the Jury for the event, not a participant on short notice. Without time to laboriously prepare sketches or stencils, she spontaneously created a winning concept right before show time!

To view more of the winners at this event, or to learn more information about the next display in Austria in July 2009: www.bodypainting-festival.com For those of us needing a change in career direction, or even something to spice up evening playtime, this might be a suitable, or more accurately, suitless art form for you!

A special thank you to the friendly and informative SongYi Choi who helped confirm some facts.