While spending time in PNG I was exposed to some of the traditional dances, and costumes from the different tribal groups.  One of the tribal groups in Simbu have this tradition of painting their bodies with a skeleton design.  I believe this was to scare some of their rival tribes instead of using violence.

That was the inspiration that led me to create something new taking some of the traditional elements of the Simbu culture, but with a more contemporary twist.

Some of the men covered their bodies with white clay found in the nearby river, and the other men painted their bodies with a mixture of ashes (from fire wood) and water.

The project evolve as I was working with them.  I had an idea in my head of what I wanted to create initially, but as with so many projects like this, it evolves on the spot being inspired slight moves of the body or geometrical figures that I would find in the bodies put together.

A huge thanks to John Walters for helping me put together this project in such a short time, and to all the kids who participated.

Here are some of the images that came out of this project: