Tribal Bodies – Imago-Dei

7 November 2016

Mesmerising work by material designer and visual artist, Shai Langen. Shai transforms and reshapes the human body in a performative and intuitive way, by means of material experiment.

The video (imago-dee) showcases an analogue technique by using wallpaper paste and acrylic paint and is made entirely without computer animation.

The model was covered with a layer of coloured wallpaper paste unto which different patterns of paint was applied. The patterns slowly shift and become more chaotic. Taking the concept of ‘tribal’ rituals and its costumes and rituals, humanity has created to commemorate and honour our deceased. These ‘tribal’ bodies slowly change and their patterns wither over time.