Shaman Study 9

What does it mean to be human? In Human Canvas, Art Wolfe uses his exceptional photography and his background in fine-art painting to transform skin into an abstract landscape. Inspired by the body-painting traditions of indigenous peoples he has photographed worldwide–in particular, those in Ethiopia and Papua New Guinea–Wolfe set out to present his own take on this art form and explore concepts of universal beauty. Through the use of lines, patterns, textures, and unusual points of view, Wolfe abstracts the human form and creates a unique and captivating look at the human body as art. The result is an energized expression of both artistic mastery and cultural impact.