Body artist Ria Clauss has turned a growing trend into an annual expo.
RIA Clauss can spend hours painting people from head
to toe, creating anything from an office secretary to a buff gladiator
using a simple brush and sponge. But when the job is done, all it takes
is the click of a button and a new picture to switch her mindset to the
next project.
People often ask the body artist how she feels about spending so
much time creating something that will be washed off. ‘‘I’m fine with it
because I’ve done the creation. I don’t need it any more,’’ she says.
“I’ve never been a canvas artist and I don’t think I’d like to be one
because I’d just have a pile of canvasses in the house. With body art,
once I’ve got that picture I love, I’m happy.’’
Clauss travelled the world in her youth and was inspired by the
henna markings of India and Africa for various ceremonies. ‘‘I remember
having my face painted with the yellow ochre once so everyone would know
I was a single girl,’’ she recalls.
When she returned to Sydney, she settled into married life. It was
only when she turned 40 and came across a face-painter that she decided
to follow her new-found passion. ‘‘I didn’t think I could paint and it
wasn’t until I started painting that I really loved it,’’ Clauss says.
“There was no one to teach me so I used to go and get videos and books
on folk art. I basically taught myself everything I know.’’
For years Clauss painted faces at the markets in Eumundi, a small
town on the Sunshine Coast, then graduated to temporary tattoos and body
art. ‘‘It was an important step for me because I was bored with
face-painting, and temporary tattoos were making a living but you really
couldn’t create much.’’
Clauss was soon entering overseas competitions ‘‘They didn’t have
them here. There was no community at all.’’ She competed in the
European Body Painting Festival in Austria in 2002, and went back
several times. ‘‘I was totally blown away. People had their logos on
their cars and were actually making a living out of being
body-painters.’’
Clauss became the first Australian to compete at the World Body
Painting Festival in South Korea in 2008, then retired from
competitions. ‘‘Now I just like to put on competitions and I want to
help the young generation,’’ she says. “I want to showcase them and make
it easier for them than it was for me because there was nothing
happening when I started.’’
Clauss began the Eumundi body art festival in 2007. ‘‘It was
amazing because we had the worst weather in 100 years. It flooded. All
the planes had to go to Brisbane instead of Maroochydore. Eumundi
officials called me and said ‘should we call it off?’ and I said ‘No.
These artists will come rain, hail or shine’. And they did. They came
from everywhere.’’
Inspired, Clauss moved to Melbourne to expand the concept. The
first event, Rainbow Creations Melbourne Body Art Competition, was held
at The Spot in Brunswick in 2009. ‘‘I had one month to get it together.
It only had 10 artists and it was great. It just showed how desperate
the body artists are to showcase what they do,’’ she says.
In subsequent years the competition was held at the Carlton
Brewhouse in Abbotsford. This year the event has morphed into the
Melbourne Body Art Expo, hosted by underground venue Revolt in
Kensington. “I’ve changed it to an expo because it’s become so big that a
competition only gives you so much room,’’ Clauss says.
“When you have an expo you can have the competition, other people
performing and showcasing body art, and people selling body art products
and just educating the public.’’
This year’s theme is water, H20, and categories include air brush, brush and sponge, special effects, and a novice section.
Clauss says serious competitors will have a maximum of six hours to paint their models.
‘‘For months beforehand they’ll be thinking about their designs.
They’ll be thinking about the colours they’re going to use. They’ll be
practising and practising, and then a week before the competition they
won’t be able to sleep.’’
The key to winning, she suggests, is thinking outside the square.
She recalls painting her daughter Layla as a music box in one
competition, and a bubble girl in another. ‘‘I did a bubble girl and
so did a million other people,’’ she says. ‘‘I thought about a cactus.
It’s 90 per cent water. So if I had done a cactus I would have got more
points.’’
Clauss says many body artists make the mistake of not practising
before the big day. ‘‘Our model is our first priority. We must look
after our model,’’ she says. “We have to make sure she’s warm … or he.
Plenty of water. Finger food. Breaks when they need them. We’re always
checking they’re OK because sometimes models won’t say anything until
they faint.’’
Keilor Downs resident Kylie Devic is taking part in the expo’s
novice section. The mother of two will paint her husband. ‘‘We have a
great network for face and body artists here in Melbourne so news of a
competition travels quickly,’’ she says. “It’s exciting and I’m
extremely happy to be a part of it.’’
Clauss’ long-term aim is to make Melbourne the body art capital of Australia and to lure artists from around the world.
‘‘I’m trying to get the art community to see it as a new medium
because when I started, people would go ‘body-painting? What? Do you
paint cars? Or do you do tattoos?’ Now they’re taking it seriously
because it is an artform.’’
The 2013 Melbourne Body Art Expo, Saturday, August 31, at Revolt, 12 Elizabeth Street, Kensington, from 10am to midnight.
Details: revoltproductions.com/melbourneevents/byevent/MBAX1
