Herring and Herring does Tribal

Here is another editorial shoot by Herring and Herring published in D Mode magazine. The makeup is similar to the makeup of the Omo valley tribes, its a good example of how the omo valley tribe makeup can be translated into a fashion look.

 

 

 

I think I might try something like this experimenting with brighter colours on top of the white.

 

 

 

 

Guiseppe Acrimboldo

I decided to add in some images of Guiseppe Acrimboldo paintings that I have been looking at. He is an Italian painter who creates portraits made up entirely of fruits, flowers, fish or books. The paintings seem to have an element of the Surma and Mursi tribes about them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diamond in the Roughage

While researching the Surma and Mursi Tribes I stumbled upon this editorial. Diamond in the Roughage, published in NY times T magazine in April 2011. The images were taken by photographer Richard Burbridge.

 

 

 

This is my favourite image, I love the shape the model has taken, it looks like a painting.

 

 

 

The editorial has taken the stylings of the Surma and Mursi Tribes to a new extreme. The images are fantastic, it could so easily of looked a mess but with the clever design and placement of different shrubery and flowers these photos really work.

 

 

Surma Tribe Makeup Trial

I decided to try out a Surma tribe make-up look for myself.  

I kindly asked my housemate to model for me!

 

 

I used my fingers to apply a clay mask in the pattern above to give the makeup more texture and to make it look more like the traditional makeup of a surma tribe.

 

 

I then painted over some areas using my Kryolan aqua colour palette.

 

 

I then created a flower headdress by weaving flowers together using wire. I chose orangey coloured flowers as these looked the most exotic.

 

 

I styled the look with a brightly coloured skirt that I found hiding in the back of my wardrobe and my most tribalistic looking necklaces (not the best styling I know but a girls got to make do). I really like the flower headdress, I am thinking about incorporating it into my final design. I am not so keen on the makeup though, I don't want my final look to be a copy of the surma tribe makeup, I just want to take elements of the look and translate them into my own ideas.

Omo valley Accessories

I have broadened my research to the tribes of the Omo Valley, the Surma Tribe being one of them! And I am now going to look at the type of accessories these tribes wear.

 

Dassanech Girl, photo by Eric Lafforgue

This girl's bottle top headdress is incredible, it must have taken her ages to collect all of those and put them all together like that!

 

Omo Valley, take from http://pinterest.com/heavensnight/world-people/

 

This image is beautiful. The headdress looks like a mane, so many different materials have been used to put this together. Love the tusks!

Photo taken by Piper Mackay
 

 

 The tribes of the omo valley seem to wear a lot of these small wooden beaded necklaces, layer upon layer. I love the headband in the image above it is really striking especially alongside this man's face paint. I also think this tribesman's headpiece is really interesting; it looks like a wig.

 

Taken from http://pinterest.com/pin/111816003219186504/

 

Taken from http://pinterest.com/pin/259238522270700949/
 

 Antlers as a hat! why not? It makes this tribeman look powerful, he has an air of importance about him.

Warner Bros Tour - Death eater masks

I recently went to the Warner Bros studio tour and whilst there I spotted these "Death Eater" masks. I was amazed by the intricate tribalistic patterns that were on them so I decided I had to take some pictures to put them in my blog!

 

Sorry about the glare, they were in a glass cabinet!

 

 

 

 

 

Below is a painting of a "Death eaters" mask that I found on my tour.

 

 

Surma Tribes continued

My fascination with the Surma Tribe continues, here are some pastel and watercolour drawings I have done of the Surma Tribe people.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Surma Tribe

My favourite tribe to date has to be the Surma tribe of Southern Ethiopia. I love how this tribe uses elements of nature as inspration for their designs. The people of this tribe will paint their bodies to try to seduce fellow tribe members or to convey their mood/feelings at that particular time. They may paint their bodies many times in one day.

 

Surma Tribe people by Hans Silvester

 

The Surma Tribe use flowers as the muse for many of the colourful patterns they paint upon their skin. They use leaves and flowers around their faces to frame their abstract designs.

 

Surma Tribe child by Hans Silvester

This child's designs remind me of a Pablo Picasso's work in a small way, particular the one below. I think that the child's choice to colour the face in this way, using unusual shapes is what gives the design its similaritys to Picasso's work....I mean call me crazy but I can see it!

 

Femme au Chapeau a Fleurs ceramic by Pablo Picasso

 

Surma Tribe child by Hans Silvester

I love this little guy, he's so avant-garde, he's just stuck a couple of giant pea pods on his head! it's brilliant!

 

Image taken from http://afritorial.com/tribe-surma-bush-fashion-gone-wild/

 

It really touches me how the Surma Tribe's designs are a projection of their inner selves, a way to express their life, I feel as if I am looking at thier souls!