Every year artists from all over the world gather in Daegu, South Korea to compete in the Daegu International Bodypainting Festival. The entire festival is so fascinating because you can watch the models’ bare skin transform into gorgeously painted canvases in a matter of hours.
The festival is broken up into two categories: Bodypainting and Fantasy Make-up. In the bodypainting competition, the models are nearly naked; most only wear underwear and tape over their breasts. The artists are given six hours to complete their masterpiece. The participants are judged on technique, originality and overall completion.
We were really amazed at how patient the models were while they were being painted. Not only were they being painted, but they were being watched, pointed at and photographed by spectators. Most of the participants just ignored the crowds and ate or played on their phones, but a few spent the entire six hours posing for every. single. photo.
At the end of the six hours the models proceeded to the stage to present their costumes to the crowd and judges. The winners were split into a top 3 and then three additional participations won an “prize for encouragement” which I assume is similar to honorable mention.
Bodypainting Prize for Encouragement Winners
Kim Sun Me (김선미), Korea (Prize: 1.0 Million Won in cash)
Lee Hye Mi (이혜미), Korea (PRIZE: 1.0 MILLION WON IN CASH)
Jin Hyun Yong (진현용), Korea (PRIZE: 1.0 MILLION WON IN CASH)
Top 3 Bodypainting Winners
First Place – Fray Scott, USA (Prize: Trophy + 10.0 Million Won in cash)
Model – 3rd place photogenic model (PRIZE: 300,000 WON IN CASH)
Second Place – Lee Ah Young (이아영), Korea (PRIZE: TROPHY + 5.0 MILLION WON IN CASH)
Third Place – Yoon Ji Hyun (윤지현), Korea (PRIZE: TROPHY + 3.0 MILLION WON IN CASH)
The fantasy make-up competition focuses on elaborate costumes. Because the whole body isn’t painted, the time limit for the fantasy make-up competition is only 4 hours and the participants are judged on technique, originality and use of costume.
The fantasy make-up competition presentation was actually a lot of fun to watch, but almost a little unsettling. The models had to wear huge dresses, outrageously high heels and giant headdresses, which made them incredibly clumsy on stage. There were lots of wobbles and almost trips, but overall I thought the models did incredibly well considering the circumstances.
Fantasy Make-Up Prize for Encouragement Winners
(PRIZE: 500,000 WON IN CASH)
Top 3 Fantasy Make-Up Winners
FIRST PLACE – Seo Ye Won (서예원), Korea (Prize: Trophy + 3.0 Million Won in cash)
Second PLACE – An Mi Ri (안미리), Korea (prize:Trophy + 2.0 Million Won in cash)
third PLACE -Kang Shuting, China (Prize:Trophy + 1.0 Million Won in cash)
The festival is located at Kolon Field Concert Hall inside Duryu Park in Daegu. If you plan on driving, pick your parking spot wisely. Last year there was also a Miss Korea event taking place in Duryu Park. We got what we thought was a fantastic parking spot on the side of the road, only to come out at the end of the night to find another row of cars had formed right next to ours. Luckily, we were able to hop the curb and reverse down the sidewalk, otherwise we would have been stuck there for quite a while longer.
Admission: Free
2014 Dates: August 30-31
Address: Kolon Field Concert Hall inside Duryu Park
Daegu, Dalseo-gu, Duryu-dong, 588
Subway: Line2 – Duryu station, about 20 minutes on foot from exit 9,10,11,12
Bus : #653
Website: 2014 Daegu International Bodypainting Festival
Life Outside of Texas 
Wow, this is amazing!! I’m super tempted to go this year, will you and your man be going? You took such amazing pictures, great job!!
Thanks, Kirsten! We thought about going back because we really enjoyed it, but we decided to go to a vineyard instead. The wine wins! haha You should definitely check it out though. It’s really interesting, and it’s a great chance to practice photography.
Vineyard, whaaat?! haha
haha Yeah, apparently there’s one main vineyard in Korea and it’s somewhere south of Daejeon. We are going to check it out over the weekend. I’ll let you know if it’s any good!
Thinking about going this weekend!! The artists and models are incredible, and you got some great shots. 😀
Thanks! We had a lot of fun last year. If you go, let me know how it goes. Hopefully the weather will be nice this weekend!
Not sure if I’ll make it there, but WOW these pictures are awesome! Thanks for sharing 🙂
It’s a great festival, too bad you’re going to miss it. Hope you’re enjoying your last few weeks in Korea!
These are absolutely stunning! It would be so cool to get down there this weekend! Thanks for posting the details!
Thanks, Laura… I hope you were able to check out the festival. I heard it was a lot of fun this year.
Reblogged this on Adventures in the North Pacific and commented:
I’m going to this on Saturday!
How was it? Did you have a good time?
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Wow, such fantastic pictures. It’s too bad I couldn’t make it this year. Hopefully there’s enough interest to keep this very interesting festival going.
Thanks! It’s been going on a few years now so you may get another chance to go next year if you guys will still be around. It was a really fun day!
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That’s some insane talent on display! And unlike a tattoo, they get to take it off at the end of the day 😀 Great photography as well, you captured all the colour really well.
Thanks, Andrew! I couldn’t imagine being that still for 6 hours though… what patience those models have! I was blown away by all of the talent as well.
Well the weather was perfect but we didn’t end up going! Hope someone did and can report back how this years festival was! 🙂
It was actually because of your blog post that I went to the festival! It was awesome I’m so glad I went 🙂 Your pictures excited me
Yay! I’m so glad you went and you had a good time. Thanks for letting me know. That makes me really happy!
These pictures are so awesome. I think my favorite (overall costume) is the third place one. Great outfit and great picture! I wasn’t able to go, but I recommended it to my sister (she lives in Daegu now) and she loved it. Thanks for the recommendation 😉
Incredible! Of course, the art work is amazing, but the fact that a person can sit or stand pretty still for all those hours is impressive. WOW!
These are unbelievable photos!! Festivals like this one are some of my favorite things about Korea. I wasn’t able to fit this one into my plans, so thank you for capturing it so beautifully for those of us that couldn’t attend!
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Me gusta muchísimo el body arte
Isn’t it all so beautiful?!