A Graphite Portrait: Tribal Marks

This time I decided to to make a portrait much closer to home. Way back before colonialism it was customary to have tribal marks where I'm from. The marks not only told where someone is from or the tribe but also the family. Take this woman for instance, her big marks indicate that she is from a royal family. Royal families usually have bigger marks.

This made it easy to identify people and keep the peace and law. It's almost as though you don't need much introduction from an individual save his or her first name.

That is to say civilization comes in myriads and though this may seem gruesome, it is not at all branding and totally voluntary. You'd even be happy to get yours, almost like a cool tatto some 100 years ago. I guess I must have visited earth late..lol

The process....

Thanks for the visit friends, it is much appreciated.