Guess What?

Posted on September 8, 2010 by Rob

It’s been a week since the last Guess What, and I know how much everyone loves them, so here’s a new one for today. Now this one is probably going to be easy to figure out because of the reflection in the picture.

guesswhat

Think you have a good idea of what it is? Keep reading to find out.

transscrotal

This obviously isn’t the biggest transscrotal we’ve seen on ModBlog, but Pek’s clever usage of the large gauge CBRs makes for some pretty decent looking photos. You can check out the rest of his project over in the transscrotal gallery in the Hard section of BMEzine.com. If you don’t have access to the Hard section, you can get yourself a membership right here. And if the Hard galleries aren’t your thing, you can still sign up for a free membership!

Mandala in ink

Posted on September 7, 2010 by Rob

The art of a sand manadala is tied deeply to Buddhist spiritual beliefs. As you can see in the video above, the time and dedication required to create a mandala takes years of study. Each grain of sand is delicately placed to form a detailed image created in a geometrical design. After taking a look at the following image sent in by Punktum, I immediately thought of the sand mandala. (Click the picture to see the full sized image)

With the design being so geometrical and comprised of mainly dotwork, you can easily see where the comparison comes from. The art of tattooing is no so dissimilar from the process involved in creating a sand mandala. Yes one is a strictly religious and spiritual practice, but they both employ the usage of a fine material to create something larger. While the monks use grains of sand, the tattoo artist uses small needles. In both cases the smallest details matter, as each line and color must be placed in a specific location to create the overall design. It was really difficult to select just one image of Punktum’s so here’s a second one, just to give you an idea of how detailed these designs are.

spiral

If you have some time, please check out the tribal and blackwork tattoo gallery today, you won’t be disappointed with what you find.

Cutting right to the point

Posted on September 7, 2010 by Rob

So earlier today we saw IAM: Arseniy Andersson playing chess with someone he had just suspended, now lets take a look at something else that he has done recently.

With Dragon-Con finishing up yesterday, I thought it would be a good idea to throw some form of nerdy mod up here on ModBlog. Of course I could have done the easy thing and found an image from the geek tattoo gallery, but I thought I should dig for something that is even geekier. Sure enough, it didn’t take me too long to find something that I think probably falls into the realm of nerd. Now the appeal of Dragon-Con is that it is the most “fan friendly” convention around. People are encouraged to dress up at all times, and the parties can last all weekend long. Think APP’s convention but with a little more spandex, and almost as many people dressed as Slave Leia. Dragon-Con also caters to every form of nerd/geek/dork/whatever on the planet with workshops ranging from “Zombies vs. Unicorns” to “David Bowie: Loving the Alien” to “Hairstyles of the Tang Dynasty” and everything in between. It’s probably the only place on the planet you’d find Batman sharing costume tips with a steampunk civil war veteran.

I’m sure that of the people that attended, those who are tattooed probably sport something that relates to the object of their passions. Now when it comes to fans of fantasy, nothing says “fantasy” more than elves. I’m not talking about the little guys who make cookies, but the kind that roam the woods with their bows and pointed ears. So what’s an elven fan to do when they really want to transform into one? Well for starters, they could point their ears. Now I’m not saying everyone with pointed ears is a fan of fantasy, but it’s safe to say of the devotees to the fantasy genre, those who are inclined to get a major modification done, will probably have their ears pointed.

Thanks to Arseniy, this young lady was able to get her ears sculpted the way she wanted them. Whether she’s a fan or not, her ears definitely fall into the category of elven.

ears

Now as to how he managed to sculpt her head to remove her face entirely, that’s a story for another day. Although from what I understand, it was reversed due to some breathing difficulties.

Buried in your black heart

Posted on September 7, 2010 by Rob

I was thinking about saving this post for this week’s Friday Follow-up, but it’s such a great series of pics that I just couldn’t wait to share them.

Copy sent in this photo of his hand implant procedure back in May. The artist is Mike Knight from Velvet Grip Family, in Hollywood, CA.

hand

The rest of the photos of the procedure can be seen in the 3D-art implant gallery. The question of course arises, well what does it look like healed?

Thankfully Copy sent in a fully healed picture last week to share with everyone. Keep on reading to check it out.

heart

You can see just how well the implant healed up, plus Copy’s blackwork really accentuates how the light hits his hand, making the heart stand out even more that it would without the tattoo. I’m also a big fan of the simplicity of the photo, the contrast of the black against the wall, and the shadows created by the implant, really make the modifications the highlight of the photo. There’s also the clash between the imagery, while the tattoos are dark and cover the surface, the heart is strong and is showing itself through the darkness, forcing its way into the light.

No matter how deep something may be buried, if it is strong enough, it will rise up and push through anything in its way. Feelings are a perfect example of that. People supress their thoughts and feelings towards things and people all the time, yet eventually, often when it is least expected, those feelings can come rushing back. These moments can easily overwhelm someone, to the point that in the moment nothing else matters. It could be feelings of love towards someone, or anger towards another, I think where it is seen most is at a funeral. The news of a loved one passing away is always painful, yet in the time between hearing the news and the funeral itself, life must continue on for those few days. It’s difficult, but for most people it’s a necessity. So when the day arrives, all those feelings of grief and sadness that someone has pushed aside to get through the days comes flooding back. They’re finally able to release all of that emotion that had been building up, and they’re able to do it at a time they’re surrounded by people who are feeling the exact same way. It is through these experiences that a person is able to come to terms with their own feelings and move forwards. So while holding things in may be needed by people, eventually what is trapped inside will want to come out, it’s just a matter of time.

Fall into the season

Posted on September 7, 2010 by Rob

Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower.

–Albert Camus

Most people have a favorite season. If you love skiing or snowboarding, winter may be your favorite. Spring has always been thought of as a time of rebirth and new love, while summer is the domain of the the sun. Then there are those of us who love the fall. The days growing cooler as the nights get longer, but not so cold that you need to bundle up when you go for a walk. The air becoming crisp and clean now that the humidity of august is behind us. And of course, who can forget about the biggest visual reminder of the changing season, the leaves changing colour.

I suppose it’s fitting that one of the first posts I make the day after Labour Day features some images uploaded over the weekend. Labour Day is always summer’s last hurrah before the fall takes its hold. It’s the last weekend for most kids before heading back to school, and it’s the last long weekend of the summer for adults to head out to the cottage to catch those last few moments on the lake.

For the uploader of the following pics, Halfie, this tattoo really captures that transition from summer to fall. Granted all the seasons can be seen as transitional, but when looking at the leaves, you can really see the changes happening right before your eyes. The artist is Kyle Hoffman from A Brand New Tattoo in Eau Claire, WI, and the photographer was Paul Veit.

fall1

Keep on reading to see the rest of the leaves, and the colors they change into.

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You can check out the rest of the images in the nature and wildlife gallery.

Do you have a favorite season (or seasons)? What makes that time of year special to you?

Checkmate

Posted on September 7, 2010 by Rob

A few months back Jen posted a picture that got more than a few mouths watering. Well it turns out the young man in that image, IAM: Arseniy Andersson is so much more than a pretty face. While we all appreciate his modelling pictures, back at home in St. Petersburg, Russia he is also known for being a piercer and performance artist. I’m not entirely sure of the story behind these images, but from what I can tell Arseniy threw the hooks for what appears to be some form of photo/video shoot.

checkmate1

Of course the question is, was the chessboard part of the shoot, or was it just something being used to kill time? Photos of suspensions always seem to capture such fantastic moments. I suppose when you know the subject isn’t going to be going anywhere, the photographer can really set themselves up for a beautiful picture. So while it may be a couple suspended tandem over a stream, or a good looking guy playing chess while in an abandoned warehouse, the opportunity for an interesting image is always present.

Keep on reading to see a closeup of the man playing black.

checkmate2

If you want to check out more great images of people suspending, head on over to the suspension galleries and check them out.

While you do that, here’s a question to ponder: If you could do any activity while suspending, what would it be?

The beauty of stolen moments

Posted on September 4, 2010 by Jen Savage

I’ve been pretty busy and with a new school year upon us, things are only going to get more hectic. I’d love to be able to post to ModBlog more often but I don’t have the time to devote to writing up some great entries right now. That said, as I was moderating photos this afternoon, I happened upon this one and couldn’t resist.

I love the juxtaposition between the hard steel hooks in his back and the tenderness of the moment this couple is sharing. The photos were submitted by John_Wayne_Harlyquin and I’m not sure if he’s the guy in the photos or the person who took them but I’m glad he decided to share this with BME. This photo, for me, is such a true representation of BME with giant hooks piercing through flesh and a couple about to kiss. The normalcy we experience when we’re together makes me forget that the rest of the world doesn’t look at body modification the way that we do.

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The rest of the set of photos that were submitted can be found here.

I hope you all enjoy this long weekend and the last bit of real freedom for awhile for those of you heading back to classes next week.

The Inner Eye

Posted on September 3, 2010 by Rob

I always like to save something special for my last post of the week, and I think you won’t be disappointed with what I found for you today.

First and foremost, I want to give you a little background on the man who inspired this piece. You may or may not have heard the name Alex Grey before, although you probably have seen some of his work. As one of the most distinctive artists in the past 50 years, his work explores spirituality through visionary art, a form of psychedelic art. I’m definitely not an expert in art theory, so I won’t try to explain his works in-depth, but what I can tell you is that his art has a profound effect on the majority of people who see it. For many people the first time they might have seen some of his work was on the album art for Tool’s Lateralus album. Since then Alex has worked with the band, in addition to his own works, and has produced not only album art, but also set designs for their live shows and even created the visuals for this video. One of Alex’s major works, The Sacred Mirrors, has been turned into a gallery exhibit known as the Chapel of the Sacred Mirrors. A film was made about the gallery, and features interviews with Alex as he explains his paintings.

Of course with his art focusing on spiritual transformation, he easily became a natural inspiration for modification artists. Gabriel Cece, from Studio Evolve Tattoo in Virginia Beach, VA, recently created this piece that is an interpretation of Alex’s work.

alexgrey

The art of modification is strongly linked to a transformative spirituality, where the individual regardless of the personal reasoning behind it, transforms their body on a physical level to achieve some internal satisfaction. This piece in particular speaks volumes towards this transformation, as the eyes placed on the transparent hands show the inner self looking out on the world. The spirituality of self is viewing the outside world, and is changing the external self to reflect the thoughts and feelings of the inside.

I think I should stop myself there, as I could probably go on for hours about the beauty of this piece of art. With the new gallery system on BME, you’re able to leave a comment directly on the page of the image, so if you wish to share your thoughts on this with Gabriel, head over to the religious and mythological tattoo gallery and leave a comment.

Bird of Paradise

Posted on September 3, 2010 by Rob

The myth of the bird of paradise stems from an old Sufi fable about the Huma bird. It is said that the bird is always in flight, never coming to rest, and is often believed to not even possess legs. Tales of the Huma bird can be traced throughout various cultures, and in all cases the bird is seen as a good omen, bringing wealth, prosperity, and good health. Stories go on to describe the bird as having both male and female attributes, while others link it directly to the myth of the phoenix. The meaning of course can shift depending on the culture, yet themes of eternal life and renewal tend to be the strongest.

As for the real birds of paradise, these beautiful animals are still alive in the world, although they are considered a threatened species due to hunting and deforestation.

Given the beauty of the birds, and the link to a myth about rebirth and transformation, it should be no wonder that this scarification piece by John Joyce looks fantastic.

bird of paradise

The reasons the person chose to get this piece are their own, yet something can be said to the process of the cutting and the scar that will follow. In essence the person is becoming reborn with a new sense of being. The skin that was removed is gone forever, yet something new and beautiful will take its place. Like the phoenix, the person has undergone a rebirth, coming out on the other side a transformed person.

John himself is no stranger to creating brilliant pieces of art, as you can easily see in his own gallery on BME.

On the road with Steve Haworth

Posted on September 3, 2010 by Rob

A certain Mr. Crumbs let me know that the legendary Steve Haworth is hitting the road this fall, and is taking his act across the pond to a number of cities in Europe. If you don’t know who Steve is then you owe it to yourself to find out. As for where and when Steve will be appearing, here’s a handy list to help you with your travel plans.

Steve will be appearing at the Primal Arts Festival in Maryland September 3-6, and doing all four of his seminars and participating in suspensions. Visit our Seminars page to register for the seminars. Contact us at [email protected] for appointments. This should be an exciting mix of the body mod world with kink and alternative lifestyles.

Steve will be doing an in-store appearance at INFINITE BODY PIERCING in Philadelphia, PA September 6-7. If you would like to make an appointment, please contact us.

Steve has finalized his European tour plans! He will be appearing at CALM Bodymodification in Stockholm Sep 10-11, Copenhagen Body Extremes Sep 13-14, BMXnet Conference in Berlin Sept 16-19, Trust Mannheim Sep 21-23, the London Tattoo Convention Sep 25, Self Sacrifice in London Sep 26-27, and Ghirigori Family studio in Oggiono, Italy Sept 29-30.

Steve will be presenting all four of his seminars at the BMXnet Conference, and at Self Sacrifice September 26-27. Visit the BMXnet page for more info and to register for BMX. More info will be posted soon on how to register for the London seminars.

Steve will be at Sanchez Ink Tattoo and Body Piercing in Fontana, CA on October 15-16. So if you’re in the LA area and have been wanting a mod from Steve, this would be a good opportunity. Please email [email protected] to make an appointment.

Modification practitioners and enthusiasts alike can benefit greatly from Steve’s seminars, so I highly recommend taking the time to go see him if you’re able to. Also, with Steve performing some modifications near the end of his tour you have the rare opportunity to be modified by one of the finest practitioners in the world. While Steve’s works can be seen in several galleries on BMEzine.com, a good place to start looking would be his own scarification gallery. For those who are subscribers to the surgical areas, the implant section is always a great place to check out some of Steve’s other work.