Phuong Vu Manh, one of the first body painting artists in Vietnam has displayed his work on buffalo skin.
Phuong Vu Manh and his work
He later painted on a male model then on three female models. Manh said body painting is still considered vulgar and the artists still face many difficulties. Finding models for body painting is not an easy task.
The artists prefer nude models but few models are willing to consent, and even if the model consents, the artists' family or partner may object.
When working, the artists have to concentrate and be fast or the model may tire and move, disturbing the work.
Furthermore, not many people want to devote themselves to body painting since they can't earn money from it. They have to find materials, spend hours on the models' bodies but their work may only survive for two days.
Phuong Vu Manh hopes to open an exhibition but artist can only paint two to three models a day. An exhibition would need the contribution of many artists.
In addition, conservative social attitudes and management agencies are still reluctant to allow nudity.
Artist Dao Anh Khanh also used body paintings at some his exhibition. Khanh said he saw Manh's work but only a few of the pieces were good creations. Manh hadn't really spent enough time and thought about the paintings.
"The audience needed to come and see the work with their own eyes and feel the atmosphere. The artists also need to devote themselves to their work. I think the agencies shouldn't deny audiences the exhibition of good paintings." he said.
Hoang Anh, a model for body painting shared that she like the art and volunteered to be a model despite the low fee. As a model she often had to buy skin care products to cope with the chemical effects of the paint, but she also admitted she didn’t dare let anyone see the photos of her work.
Manh's creations
