Body Painting Meets Aussie Landscapes

By Rory Switzer.

Merging with the Earth: Australia is a series of creative collabs between artist Orly Faya and Indigenous groups from around Australia.

The project is based on Orly painting people into various Australian landscapes. The finished product will trick your eyes, treat your soul and blow your freakin’ mind.

Over the course of 12 months, this talented artist will endeavour to create 12 pieces of body painting artwork, painting people into country and country onto people. Each individual project will be captured in a short film, still photography and a written article documenting the process of each painting to completion whilst the subject tells the story of their life, community and connection to country.

Through each piece created, Orly and her living, breathing canvases will be raising funds for a community initiative nominated by the person being painted.

Orly’s first piece for Merging with the Earth: Australia begins just south of the Gold Coast at big beautiful Mt. Warning, aka Mt Wollumbin. The subject is Gavin Ivey, a Minjungbal man of the Bunjalung Nation. Money raised from this particular project will be used to support Madhima Gulgan – an employment initiative for Aboriginal communities living around Mullumbimby.

“My motivation is to highlight everyone’s innate connection to the earth. This message is expressed though body painting and storytelling, sharing and recognising precious Indigenous knowledge for a sustainable world.” Says Orly Faya.

To find out more info on Merging with the Earth: Australia and the project creator, who alongside being an award winning body painter, also happens to be a (take a deep breath) fine artist, graphic artist, live performance artist, public speaker, poet, environmentalist, humanitarian, anthropologist and creative activist, head to the website.