Historical bodypainting performance for the prestigious United Nations

The UN project team is back from our amazing project contribution to the United Nations Peace Memorial in South Korea. This project was indeed a big step writing a piece of history for the art we love and the bodypainting movement. The WBA is very proud of this opportunity.

Video: #PEACE‬ - Needed more than ever before in our world. What was originally planned to have a behind the scenes video, changed on site into a short exhibition promo and a making of documentary. The ‪WB Production‬ team developed, filmed and post produced the short and memorable story in just 48 hours.

Making of the UN-PM Bodypainting Day

The "WB Production," a division of the World Bodypainting Association was invited to stage a historical bodypainting performance for the prestigious United Nations Peace Memorial 2015 in South Korea.

As quoted by Alex Barendregt, Chairman of the World Bodypainting Association and CEO of the WB Production.
"Bodypainting is one of the most visually effective tools in today's advertising and communications world."

A pillar in the industry of Bodypainting for the past two decades, Alex Barendregt and his South Korean team had the special opportunity to meet with President JUN Oi-Sook of the (UNPM) United Nations Peace Memorial, in hopes to inspire and captivate her with the art of bodypainting.
Both the president and her staff were set back in excitement as they viewed this exceptional art created by artists of the WB Production. Through bodypainting a huge potential came into play in communicating their stories and messages to a younger generation before them, as a result the UNPM Exhibition was put in motion.

The date was perfect, as it marked the 70th anniversary of the United Nations and just one year before the Peace Memorial was built. The entire memorial is set on visualizing various world conflicts, in particular the Korean War. It also shows what role the UN has played in bringing peace amidst the violence.

In order to learn from the past it is important to take a closer look into understanding our history, war, political instability and how interconnected governments and global communities really are. In many ways, the various styles of bodypaintings that were chosen for the exhibition required the audience to also take a closer look. The camouflage and installation bodypainting art drew the viewer into this historical exhibition and really triggered people to engage with history.

A very talented and international mix of artists were put together, such as world renowned Johannes Stötter from Italy, Vienna based Bulgarian Bella Volen, Mike Shane from Luxembourg, Rodolfo Campos from the United Sates and the 2015 World Bodypainting Festival Champion Min Ah Kim from South Korea. To capture this historical moment both in pictures and film, award winning Master Photographer Joachim Bergauer from Salzburg and the Australian Videographer Josh D. Lim were also part of the WB Production team.

"The Memory We Share," was the title of this historical bodypainting project on October 23rd 2015. Eight scenes were staged for the audience within the exhibition. Veterans were also invited to the UNPM building, which they saw for the first time and were impressed by the talent of the bodypainting artists and the touching concept. History came to life as we brought some humanity on to the world stage.