Body artists embrace fantasia theme

Artist Yolanda Bartram paints North Shore Mayor Andrew Williams at the launch of this year's New Zealand Body Art Awards. Photo / Glenn Jeffrey

New Zealand's annual Body Art Awards show will this year be held at the Bruce Mason Centre on Auckland's North Shore.

Event creator and director Mem Bourke says it promises to be a colourful affair, with artists creating moving canvases based on the theme 'Fantasia - Asia'.

Entrants can compete in a variety of body art disciplines, including hand painting, special effects and fluorescent categories. This year there is also a new Maori myths and fantasies section.

North Shore Mayor Andrew Williams is an ardent supporter of the awards and fronted up to this year's launch with his own torso painted.

"The Body Art Awards are simply breathtaking - a spell-binding, fun, zany, outrageous experience put together by some highly creative and exceptionally talented New Zealanders," he said.

"The event offers new possibilities for enhancing our creative identity as well as providing employment within the creative industries."

* Tickets for the July 25 show are priced from $69.00 and are available from Ticketmaster.

For more information, see bodyartawards.co.nz.

- NZ HERALD STAFF