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The Great Lake Centre, Taupo in the Events Capital was brought to life on Sunday 29th, anniversary weekend with the 3rd NZ Body Painting Festival, a major international drawcard with out-of-this-world creatures and incredible creations themed to Become A Legend.

The result is truly breathtaking with the 21 artists involved this year coming from all over New Zealand as well as from Australia, Belgium, South Africa, Netherlands, Malaysia, Denmark, Sweden and England. Travellers on holiday from Europe and Australia deliberately detouring from their planned schedule/route to come to Taupo to do the body art workshops and be part of the event.

Models were painted by make-up, hair and body artistry teams, professionals, emerging and amateurs for the show; and performed their dances to a global audience from over 14 countries. Joining them on the Great Lake Stage and hosting the event was MC Brendon Weatherly, for media partner’s Classic Hits.

Dylan Tahau from Events Capital Taupo, New Zealand captured the essence of the performed art through his oration representing each story behind the art showcased. Capturing the imagination of the audience from including visitors from over 14 countries including Ireland, Japan, China, Africa.

FRIDAY 27 JANUARY- PRE GLOW

Sandi Cutts TG UV Speed Painting

Snazaroo Face Painting Comp – Ambah O’Brien (Australia)

SUNDAY 29 JANUARY - MAIN DAY

Snazaroo NZ International Body Art Champion

1st - Amelia Hitchcock

2nd - Emma Lousie Edworthy

Emerging Artist – Anna Molineux

TopMark Mask Professional - Emma Lousie Edworthy

Quality Print Audience Choice - Kim Boyd

Kea Camper High Performance Award – Sarah Iwaskow

Classic Hits Over All Youngest Participant – Amelie Wood

Our sincere thanks once again to all the sponsors of this year’s NZ Body Painting Festival ‘Waituhi’ 2012

Special thanks to: Events Capital, Great Lake Centre, NZSound, Classic Hits, Quality Print, IDESIGNweb, Snazaroo, Oceania Lighting,

NZ Body Painting Festival

TROPHY

This years trophy is called the Purerehua award. It is carved from 30,000 year old swamp kauri. It features a stylized Purerehua in a pure abstract form. This symbol depicts the period before the creation process starts, before creative energies are applied to an object or to a body.

The Purerehua was a wind instrument used in traditional times to call upon the various energies and forces to assit with certain tasks and ceremonies. The name of this instrument is also used to describe the butterfly whos journey like a flower transforms from a humble pure form of nature to a masterpiece of beauty. This award has been fashioned through abstract eyes to provoke abstract thought from hesitant artist towards bodyart. To Tangata Whenua the marking or scarification of ones body known as Ta Moko was and still is a sacred ritual of identification. Through Body art the freedom of expression and creativity can be as abstract and colorful as one desires. Nga mihi atu kia kotou.

Press Release: NZ Body Art Awards