Wednesday  Nov 16, 2005

INKEDblog Interviews Artist Michael Hyman

Seattle-based artist Michael Hyman knows what it’s like to sit for a tattoo. He’s got a few. He also has some firsthand experience utilizing the body as canvas. The big difference between his art and tattooing: the ink he slings stays up on the surface. Michael is a body painter. He’s been on the receiving end of the tat gun and the other side of the paintbrush. I recently asked him to compare the two forms.

–Justin Pelegano

INKEDblog: The body painting you do is a unique take on the body art movement. When did you start?

Michael: My first experience with body painting was around six years ago. I did some painting for an underground fashion show, although it was fairly tame compared to what I do now. [I’ve done] it occasionally since then, but really swung into much more active body painting a year or so ago.

INKEDblog: What about it [body painting] speaks to you?

Michael: The human body is an amazing canvas. I really like working with such an organic form. It is quite different than what I do on linen or cotton canvas... the level of detail and technique is different. But I like having a living, breathing, moving form to work with, and each person has different curves to interact with. It is also enjoyable to work with a canvas that thinks and talks. I also like that few people do it. The people I have painted have all been very excited about the work and often wish they could go to work 'dressed' that way. I would love to do a show sometime with just body painting in it, or maybe with a set of my paintings and body painted models walking around.

I also like the indirect nature of the displayed work, in that it is a picture of a painting on a person, so there is kind of a cascade of actions. I have paintings of people and paintings on people. When I do the body painted political cartoons, I like that I have a message about my distaste for conservative Republicans that is on a form that they would of course hate as well – a naked woman! Oh dear! And I love seeing the moment when people realize what they are looking at. They always start by looking at the cartoon and trying to figure out
what I'm saying. And then there is that uncomfortable 'oh' look that they get.

INKEDblog: You have several tattoos, so you know what it's like to sit for permanent ink...can you compare the patience and stillness required for tattooing to that required in body painting.

Michael: They are pretty similar. Body painting can take several hours to do. But there are some big differences in that the subject is completely naked, and the initial coverage is much faster. Like with tattooing, my models also often zone out during the process. Sometimes they lie down so they can sleep since it is very relaxing. I find getting a tattoo to be similar. Something about it is just so relaxing and can initiate a trance like state.

With body painting though it is much easier for a model to move, change positions, or take a break. And I can start over if I want without penalty. And there is no blood...

One difference though is that someone with no skill or clue can body paint someone. The result will most likely be lousy, but it doesn't take any skill to get some paint or liquid latex and slap it on someone. (Removing the liquid latex though... that is a different story.) Of course, that isn't creating a work of art. I would hope that most tattoo artists have skill and a clue.

INKEDblog: Tattooing is a very intimate art form between artist and canvas...do you feel that full body painting goes a step further in the intimacy direction?

Michael: I find that I get to know my models very well. They become friends during the process, in part because they are often initially nervous, and in part because it is a very transformative process. I haven't found that same level of camaraderie to form with the artists that have tattooed me. Body painting also is complete coverage, so it naturally starts out a bit more intimate. I find though that my models very quickly lose any feeling of vulnerability, and then become very curious and excited about what I am doing.

Like tattooing, though, it is addictive. All of my models want to come back to do it again. Sometimes they send pictures of themselves painted to their parents or to friends, which is pretty cool.

On the opposite side, I would really like to work with tattooed/pierced models for some of my paintings. I've done things such as put tattoos on Barbie dolls in some of my paintings, since I think a pierced/tattooed Barbie is a great idea, but I haven't worked with any models who have a lot of skin art. It would be a fun challenge to work the tattoo into the painting, since it would be a work within a work, and I also really like how tattoos look and enjoy hanging out with fellow decorated people.

INKEDblog: Ever get done with a body painted piece and wish it wouldn't just wash off? It must be kind of heartbreaking in way do know that all of that paint and ink is gonna eventually hit the shower floor?

Michael: Yes, there have been several pieces like that. One piece I did a week before the model was getting married. I chose a floral theme to go with the occasion, and then put in mirror fragments reflecting different parts of her. It was a cool piece. I wished she could show up that way to her bridal party but, of course, that would be a bit much for the guests I guess.

I painted some people for the Fremont Parade in Seattle, in which there are a lot of painted people who bike, known as the nude bikers. That was exciting, because my 'pieces' were on show for the whole day, and even got written up on someone's blog as being very cool. When I finished them they walked outside my studio, wearing only their artwork, and it was great seeing the look on the face of someone who was standing outside. The girls were very excited to have their picture taken with him... although not as excited as he was. To make the story better, the man was the CEO of a company one of the women wanted to work for. So she sent him her resume with the photo of them together attached. I'm sure that got attention.

Anyway, the women for the parade wore their art all day long, and reported that they had a lot of people photograph them, were treated to many free beers in bars, and even had their photo taken with some friendly police officers. They said they were very sad to remove the paint.

INKEDblog: You dig tattoos and you're a talented visual artist, why not consider tattooing as a possible forum or career move?

Michael: I would love to. In fact, I have wanted to learn how to tattoo for many years, but I just don't have any idea how to get started! At one point I thought about buying a gun off of E-bay and just trying it out on myself until I got the hang of it. I had some friends who volunteered to be models as well. It does seem like a form though where it would be good to get some pointers from someone who knows what they are doing since they don't erase too easily. Any of your readers want to show me how?

INKEDblog: You're a sculptor, photographer and painter...does any of your own work crossover and inspire you in terms of getting a new tattoo?

Michael: That's a really interesting question, because it never has. Perhaps because when I create artwork it exorcises whatever I am trying to work through or convey. Art is a very personal, emotional experience for me, and very cathartic. The tattoos I get are similar in that nature...they are very personal and have a lot of meaning to me. I think each form is its own experience with its own journey, and perhaps that is why there hasn't been a cross over.

Although, the black light body painting I've done has made me interested in getting a black light tattoo. But the artists I've gone to have all been skeptical about doing so since the inks are new and they aren't sure how they take. I will probably get one sometime though because I like the way it is yet another transformation. I sometimes make black light or glow in the dark paint and use it in my paintings and sculptures, so I like the idea of having that on my body. I would prefer a glow in the dark tattoo to a black light one, but I haven't seen any glow in the dark inks for skin.

Check out Michael’s dynamic artwork at www.habit.com

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Posted by: Bryan Moore at December 29, 2005 5:36 AM

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