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When they say ‘The world is your canvas,’ they’re not just speaking metaphorically. They’re talking about human epidermis, of whatever hue.

Through July 8, Bodypaint City is sited in Pörtschach, at Lake Wörthersee in the south of Austria. It’s here that the planet’s best bondypainters are gathering to ply their fleshy craft at the World Bodypainting FestivalBilled as “the world’s largest and most important bodypainting happening,” the festival attracts epidermic artists from some 44 countries.

What’s the lure that entices a body to endure the process? Rahpaelle Fieldhouse is one of the art’s prime practitioners. She says, “The thing I like most about body painting is how varied it can be. With a little highlight and shade, you can completely change your features and your character. You can,” she says, “be anything you want and after you’ve washed it off you can be something completely different.”

The epicenter of this year’s festival was Wednesday’s Body Circus – the surreal ballroom, an event WBF calls “stunning and bizarre.” Castle Leonstain was the site for the gathering, one where visitors showed up in fantasy costumes, masks extreme makeup and – of course – body paint. If you ever loved to dress up as a kid, really dress up, this was your grown-up place to be.

WBF is a natural for magicians and musicians of all ilk – the more cutting-edge the better. Among the performers this year are Conchita Wurst, Las Balkanieras, Fii Beatbox Show, Tom Hype, Vladiwoodstook, Chilli Fish, Four Star Formation, Michael Hartenberger, Victoria Aitken & Mark JB and Lost Boyz on toast.

There’s a hard competitive edge to all of this soft flesh painting. Not only is this the World Bodypainting Festival, it’s also the World Championship in the art form. Artsits are competing in categories such as brush/sponge, airbrush, special effects, UV effects, facepainting and such.

(Image: ChrisK4u)

About the author

Jerry ChandlerJerry Chandler loves window seats – a perch with a 35,000-foot view of it all. His favorite places: San Francisco and London just about any time of year, autumn in Manhattan and the seaside in winter. An award-winning aviation and travel writer for 30 years, his goal is to introduce each of his grandkids to their first flight.

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