Following the trials and tribulations of over 70 tribes from around the world, design duo Corina Olaru and Manuela Vulpescu, who together make up Swarte, created their series ‘One Square Meter of Roots’ that combines tribal body paint art with photography and illustration.
Cultural and spiritual identity is explored through real bodies with paintings that cover the human skin and then seamlessly cover the walls, showing commonality between the person and their culture as they are intertwined with the self and the soul of the community. This strong bond is what has kept these groups of identity alive, with customs and traditions that have survived throughout the years remaining mostly intact.
Each photograph comes with a story that shares an experience or a rite of passage, adding emotion to the tribal body paint art series.
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Cultural Body Art
- Opportunity for the skincare or cosmetics industry to create products inspired by traditional tribal body paint art.
- Identity Exploration
- Opportunity for brands to explore cultural and spiritual identities in their marketing and storytelling.
- Emotive Photography
- Opportunity for photographers to incorporate storytelling and emotion into their work, similar to Swarte's 'One Square Meter of Roots' series.
Where This Applies
- Art and Design
- Opportunity for artists and designers to create pieces that blend tribal body paint art with the mediums of photography and illustration, similar to Swarte's 'One Square Meter of Roots' series.
- Cultural Preservation
- Opportunity for organizations and businesses to promote and preserve traditional cultural practices through events, workshops, and education.
- Fashion
- Opportunity for fashion brands to incorporate tribal body paint art patterns and motifs into their designs, bringing awareness and appreciation for cultural diversity.
