Scarification

Scarification is the process of etching, scratching, chiseling, cutting or burning the skin in any way that will permanently alter the skin and leave a scar. Cicatrisation is a special form of burning or cutting the skin and then causing an irritation of the skin by applying a caustic plant juice, which forms permanent blisters.

Different patterns in scarification can symbolise a persons social, political and religious views; as well as being used to make people attractive!

In Papa New Guinea the Sepik tribes still use a traditional way of scarring the men's backs with the markings that resemble the crocodile. It symbolises a boys transition into manhood. Their backs are sliced open and then infected, with soot and clay and tree oil, whilst regularly washing the hundreds of wounds until they raise and leave permanent marks of the crocodile.

In class we interpreted the method of scarification using liquid latex, and small lentils, grains of rice, string etc. After coating the object you're going to use to create the scars in liquid latex, in my case i used split peas and rice grains, place them on the skin in a pattern. Dry the latex with a cool hairdryer and then cover the raised area in foundation to match the surrounding skin