I just got back, late last night, from a week long family beach trip. I planned to skip out on Modblog today, and instead, focus on healing my sunburn, my sore muscles and my hangover. However, after I got home, I realized a monumental birthday passed while I was gone, the 80th birthday of the “father of the Modern Primitive movement”, Fakir Musafar.
To, me Fakir will always be an inspiration. The fact he has dedicated his life to body modification for longer than I have been alive and that he is still actively involved in body modification, deserves respect from anyone involved in this community. He, more than any other individual brought attention to piercings, scarification, suspension, corsetry and countless other forms of body art and body play. If it were not for him, I don’t know where we (as the bod mod community) would be today, or if most of us would even be a part of this community at all.
There is not much more I can say about Fakir that hasn’t been said in the book Modern Primitives, The DVD Dances Sacred and Profane, his personal website, or Allen’s write up on hooklife.org. So I suggest anyone not fully versed in the life of Fakir Musafar start in those places. However, for the countless friends and fans of him and/or of his work who didn’t get a chance to wish him a happy birthday on his actual birthday, feel free to so do in the comments here.
BME/News and Modblog highlight only a small fraction of what
I am a big fan of Fakir Musafar. Reading about his work encouraged me to “come out of my shell” so to speak, and start actually participating in body play to satisfy my curiosities rather than just reading about it. I also learned from Fakir that I could happily modify my self in private without having to show the world what I do, which means a lot to me since I am rather shy and quiet in person and would rather not have to explain myself to people, both strangers and friends.
So yes, big happy birthday to Fakir!
An absolute inspiration, a genuine artist who has dedicated to make art while others make “freak shows” a real admiration. Happy birthday Fakir.
Thank you for all you’ve done and a belated happy birthday
¡Muchas Felicidades!. ¡Que cumplas muchos más!
A man with a great spirit and expirience of life! Happy Birthday Fakir! And thank you!
Respect
C/S
I’m more than a bit late because I hardly ever get the time to read modblog anymore, but seeing this post ONLY had 6 comments, I felt like I needed to post either way.
For me personally, Fakir Musafar is and has always been a huge (if not the biggest) inspiration. I still remember clearly reading about him in wonder at a very young age, if not for Fakir I probably never would have been where I am right now. On top of all the amazing things he has done for the bod mod comunity over all these years, he’s the kindest and person you’ll ever meet and a very intelligent person.
Besides the websites named in this article, I believe his “BODY PLAY” magazines are a definate must-read for anyone interested in the subject. I still own and treasure every single issue ever printed (and have the original first issue framed). Some information can be found here: http://www.bodyplay.com/bodyplay/index.htm (I hope it’s okay for me to post an url?)
So, happy (belated) 80th birthday Fakir Mussafar, and hopefully we’ll be able te celebrate you for many more years to come!