Making their mark on screen
Tattoos have always been a security blanket for Geoff Ostling. As a young gay man he had insecurities about conforming to a stereotype but instead of succumbing to a social construct he decided to transform his body into an artwork.
Over a period of 20 years he covered 90 percent of his body with tattoos.
Now his story will be told on the ABC1 arts program Artscape in the film Skin, screening as part of the Anatomy series. The other two films in the series are Heart and Muscle.
Most of the people with complete body suits are gay and I don’t know exactly why that’s the case, Ostling said.
I had met someone else who had a full-bodied suit and it was the most beautiful thing I have ever seen and I thought it was a way to take hold of my body as a gay man and it would be something to be proud of.
I’m 62 and I’m amazed that people want to see my body. It has given me an extraordinary amount of confidence and a sense of power.
Anatomy will look at how sexuality and the body can work together as an inspiration in the creative process.
Each episode will give insight into experiences and emotions well beyond the boundaries of traditional arts documentaries.
Ostling is joined by tattooist and artist eX de Medici as they confront the challenge to preserve and exhibit Ostling’s skin after he dies.
The pair talk with taxidermists, lawyers and coroners to decide whether the skin can be added as an artwork to de Medici’s collection at the National Gallery of Australia.
At the moment the idea is that it would be the skin that will be removed and taken to the taxidermist who will then decide what to do, Ostling said.
When he does animals he makes a polystyrene model of the animal and takes the skin off the animal and then drys it and puts it on [the model].
We don’t know what they are going to do for humans because this has never been done before outside Japan.
Skin also gives an intimate insight into the world of tattooing where it’s much more than a tribal marking, inked warning or memento.
Ostling sees it as a metamorphosis that he has waited much of his adult life for and hopes this documentary will open eyes.
I hope Skin gives people something to think about and encourages people to confront what happens after they die, he said.
For me, it’s been a big thing because I don’t know what exactly happens.
I also hope people have a different view on what gay people are like because we come in all shapes and sizes.
info: Skin will screen at 10.05pm Tuesday 14 April as part of ABC1’s Artscape Anatomy three-part series.
I have never been keen on tattoos but even from the small photographs (above and in the Guide) it is clear that these tattoos are beautiful. I also loved the composition of the photographs which show two very beautiful souls. Lovely.