Friday, December 4, 2009

Hans Silvester


German photographer Hans Silvester spent 5 years documenting the body art of the people of the Omo valley in Ethiopia.


Using natural earth pigments with water, they paint themselves up to three times a day.

Adding native leaves and plants to further enhance the designs....



Adornment of the body is nothing new! Many cultures use flowers and designs from nature in fashion.



-Arcimbaldo

And nature itself has been elevated to art.




Fashion, nature and art are intertwined...influencing each other and morphing to make new designs and trends.



Painted faces

Silvester shows us timeless designs and colors.


Images that are interpreted today through fashion and art.


Similarities of past and present.

The tilt of the head....


-Carravagio

So reminiscent of a Bacchian painting.




The stare of this girl...so powerful and mesmerizing...




-Vermeer

Art, nature and fashion......inseparable . Remember, nothing is new. Look around your home and find influences of past cultures....an oriental rug, accent pillow or antique incised picture frame..old as the earth, but re-interpreted by each generation!



9 comments:

Kitty said...

A marvelous anthropological post! Thanks!

Theresa Cheek said...

Thank you Kitty!

home before dark said...

Lovely post. We are come way too far I think at times. We need to remember we are nature's fashion. Have you read Janice Lindsay's All About Color? Another dive through history and anthropology to say nothing of physics! While it pains me to say so, congratulations on the Big 12 win last night. Yes, ma'am I'm a Sooner girl. Good thing. Much prefer red (a blue red of course) to orange! However, I'll be for Texas against Alabama!

French-Kissed said...

Thank you so much for bringing the Omo people and Hans Silvester to my attention. The head dresses and body decor are stunningly beautiful ~ such gifted artistry and all from the bounty of the earth. Remarkable inspiration! ~jermaine~

Theresa Cheek said...

HBD-I am not familiar with Janice Lindsay...will definitely check it out! Thanks so much for the "nod" for UT. I am a lifetime TEX-EX!

Theresa Cheek said...

Jermaine,
Thanks for your comments. Hans Silvester has several books out on his photography.

Beth Connolly said...

The Hans Silvester photography is incredible.

Regina at Fauxology said...

Fun and imaginative! I love all the headpieces, too...

Anonymous said...

What an absolutely delightful read. And to think I was searching hand painted furniture to see where Accents of Salado ranked. Loved it, Theresa.

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