Artist Wilmer Wilson IV covered his entire body in postage for his public series titled Henry Box Brown: Forever. The live show took place in the squares of Washington, inviting passerbys to look at the tiny stamps that covered his figure from the top down.
In addition to enthralling and entertaining viewers, Wilson IV also aimed to spark greater discussion on the theme of slavery. His preoccupation with the mail system stems from the story of Henry Brown who shipped himself from Virginia to Pennsylvania in an attempt to evade slavery. Given the significance of the event, the DC Commission on the Arts & Humanities approved of Wilson IV's display as in unfolded throughout Washington.
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Live Art Performance
- There is potential to disrupt the art industry by using live art performances, which enthrall and entertain viewers and also spark discussions around important themes and issues.
- Body Art
- Body art has the potential to disrupt the beauty industry by providing a new canvas for artists to express themselves using makeup and other materials.
- Postal Art
- Using postage stamps and the mail system as an art medium could disrupt the postal industry by attracting a younger audience and redefining what counts as mail art.
Where This Applies
- Art
- There is potential to disrupt the art world through live art performances that blend entertainment and socially conscious themes.
- Beauty
- Body art could disrupt the beauty industry by offering a new form of expression for makeup artists and pushing the boundaries of what is considered beauty.
- Postal
- The use of postage stamps and the mail system in art has the potential to attract a new audience and redefine what is considered mail art.
