Ariana Page Russell has a skin condition called dermatographia, where the skin is overly sensitive to minor injuries. Even light scratches will cause it to become red and raised. This is an immune system skin hypersensitivity that releases histamine which is the chemical (neuro-transmitter) your body produces when you’re having an allergic reaction. High levels of histamine cause her blood vessels to dilate and make the vessel walls abnormally permeable and this causes the welts to appear. The welts reportedly last for 30 minutes, giving the artist time to draw various patterns on her body and then take pictures of the drawings.
Interesting to see her allow her body to be used for art. It's quite beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThis could be the perfect canvas. Never static, always receptive to change.
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