The 2020-2021 IBI Awards | Makeup Artistry
WINNER
“Uncommon Beauty”
by Michelle Jacobsz
Pretoria, South Africa
“Art manifests in every aspect of African life. The value of African craft art has been an ongoing debate for many years. Moostapha’s throne was created using African craft methods, perishable and recyclable material. A throne symbolises power. Skin pigmentation is a defining point of cultural and socio-economic identity. With this in mind, Moostapha has been positioned in two worlds. The hypo pigmentated skin was purposefully not colored as a way to say that your blemishes are beautiful and that’s what makes you unique.”
Finalists
“Kintsugi”
by Phiphi Liang
Quincy, Massachusetts
“Kintsugi also known as kintsukuroi , “golden repair”), is the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery by mending the areas of breakage with lacquer dusted or mixed with powdered gold, silver, or platinum.
The model has a birthmark on cheek but instead of trying to cover it up, we wanted to bring attention to the area and make it a beautiful thing (rather than be ashamed of it), by drawing inspiration with the method of kintsugi.”
“Guan Gong”
by Chia Chu Ma
Oakville, Ontario, Canada
“The model of the presented work has hemangioma, which has caused a large red mark on his face and body since he was born. He has grown up from countless discrimination and laughs. Due to the lack of self-esteem and confidence, he had ever once lost the hope to live. Fortunately, the family’s faith and encouragement have helped him to get through and keep going. He told me that some kids used to laugh at him and called him “Guan Gong, Guan Gong” because “Guan Gong” is a famous oriental God who has a red face like him.
The model told me that he always had been wishing to have some kind face like one of those ancient gods he believed because he has relied on those gods to survive and also believed why he grew up with difference is because of the god’s wills with special meanings.”