Laying it on thick: The human canvasses transformed into spectacular works of art



The human body was transformed into an array of spectacular designs for an annual award ceremony.

The New Zealand Body Art Awards saw contestants from across the world turn their models into moving paintings and sculptures.

They competed in five categories - hand-painted, hand-painted novice, UV, fantasy creatures and masquerade - at the Bruce Mason Centre on Auckland's North Shore.

Model Alison Fenton wears the creation of Juliet Bradford in the SPFX Creatures category

Laying it on thick: Model Tineswari Maruthamuthu (left) wears the creation of Margo Janke-Gilman and a rival (right) in the Hand-Painted Novice Category

The awards saw contestants from across the world turn their models into moving paintings and sculptures

Attention to detail: This year's show, held in Auckland, took on the theme The Future

Forty-nine contestants from as far afield as the United States worked with body paint, prosthetics and wigs.

The event had the theme The Future and Weta Workshop co-founder Sir Richard Taylor said it was a great chance to do some talent spotting.

He told Fairfax NZ News: 'There is no other event [like this] in New Zealand that brings make-up artists together.

'We [Weta] make a big part of our living doing makeup, so it is a chance to interview people, meet people and gather up cards.



Models Grace and Sarah Smith wear the creation of Dylanna Schnetler in the SPFX Fantasy Category at the New Zealand 2012 Body Art Awards

Hannah Sinclair (left) wears the creation of Myrtha Heydenrijk in the SPFX Creatures category, while Chantelle Maree Smith shows off the creation of Ana Trenwith entitled Gaga for the Future in the Masquerade Category



Forty-nine contestants from as far afield as the United States worked with body paint, prosthetics and wigs The annual show has become a great chance for creative industry professionals to spot the talent of the future 'We have hired many of these people over the years who have come and worked for us on various projects, so it is a great opportunity to see in one place incredible talent and budding talent.' NZ Body Art Awards executive producer Jonathan Smith said the show had been 12 months in the making.

Artists had been given several months to work on their competition concepts. NZ Body Art Awards executive producer Jonathan Smith said the show had been 12 months in the making