Introducting Painted Powerful; My Body is Mine

Gugenheim has created the World’s First Bodypaint Documentary, Project and Exhibition exclusively for female survivors of sexual violence.

Already covered in The Radical Notion, the work details the transformative power of bodyart with women who have experienced sexual and domestic violence, and a select few women in tow who wanted a change of skin. Using the world’s oldest art form, Victoria works intimately with survivors as one herself, using its transformative power to help them regain their own sense of power and joy in their bodies.

“Phoenix”, a piece painted on humanist Claire Kingenberg, who wanted to get painted after leaving her partner.

Gugenheim is premiering this at Women Create, the World’s First event for cancelled and at risk female and feminist artists from across the political spectrum.on the 5th December.

This project is also being used to help raise money for domestic and sexual violence charities of each model’s choosing.

You can follow updates, interviews and more on the Painted Powerful Substack, with a select few coming to both here and Gugenheim’s facebook

Gugenheim Becomes Creative Director: Bodyart, for Sony Music's new video "Messy Love"

Gugenheim was made Creative Director (Bodyart) for NAO’s “Messy Love” music video.

A gorgeous still from the otherwordly set of “Messy Love”. The dancers from start to finish were spectacular, working overtime to make sure each step was on point despite intensive choreography, multiple takes where sand had to be smoothed and reset, and the heat of the studio lights. Full list of credits for each dancer is below the post proper. Do take the time to check them out, you won’t be disappointed.

NAO’s otherworldy aesthetic is one that Victoria found especially beautiful, and was delighted to be a part of this female led creative team, working alongside dutch artistic director Lisette Donkersloot, who has a meticulously keen eye for detail, as demonstrated by the beautiful rolling shots.

Everything on set was Covid safe, with everyone being rapidly tested on site prior to a single brush stroke being applied. Despite the world being demi-apocalyptic, the show must go on!

You can Watch NAO’s Messy Love music video, below (sadly embedding isn’t permitted, but you can watch it by clicking and going to YouTube:)

All colours here were provided by the ever wonderful Cameleon Paint.

The blue top coat used was “Victoriouse” the metallic blue bodypaint named after Victoria Gugenheim, and used for Mystique in X Men and at the X Men premiere:

“Victoriouse” Bodypaint, named after Victoria Gugenheim. The finish is a mid deep metallic blue, as featured on Mystique in the X men premiere. Check out new products, meet the team, find the latest bodyart releases and more at https://www.cameleonpaint.eu.

Full list of credits and instagram are available to download, or you can link to any of these extremely talented people below, via instagram. Credit where credit is due.

FULL CREDITS:

DIRECTOR LISETTE DONKERSLOOT @lisettedonkersloot

MOVEMENT DIRECTION SHAY LATUKOLAN @shaylatukolan

DANCERS SHANNELLE ‘TALI’ FERGUS @tali_1301

NICEY BELGRAVE @niceybelgrave_

BELEN LEROUX @belen_fab18

DUJA SINADA @dujasinada

KITZ KATIKA @kikzkatika

MELODY SINCLAIR @melodysinclair

NICOLE HASTINGS @nicolehastings_

ROBIA MILLINER @robiamilliner

PRODUCTION COMPANY CAVIAR @caviar.tv

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER DANIELLA MANCA @daniellamanca

PRODUCER LAUREN MILLS @lauren.thrills

MANAGING EXECUTIVE PRODUCER SORCHA SHEPHERD @scorchshepherd

COMMISSIONER KAT CATTANEO @kat_catt

RECORD LABEL SONY MUSIC @sonymusicuk

ARTIST MANAGEMENT SAM STUBBINGS @samstubbings

MANAGEMENT COMPANY NATIVE MANAGEMENT @nativemgmt

DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY AARON REID @aarondop

PRODUCTION DESIGNER ASH HALLIBURTON @ashkhalliburton

1ST ASSISTANT DIRECTOR MARK GILLESPIE @markollepsy

HAIR STYLIST, NAO EDMUND BOSSMAN @edmundbossmanhair

MAKEUP ARTIST, NAO MATA MARIÉLLE @mata_marielle

CREATIVE DIRECTOR, BODY ART VICTORIA GUGENHEIM @victoriagugenheim

PRODUCTION ASSISTANT MOYIN SAKA @moyiiin

2ND ASSISTANT DIRECTOR CARLOTTA BECK PECCOZ @carlottabeckpeccozfilm

RUNNER PHOEBE MULVHILL @phoebemulvihill

RUNNER EDMUND BASSETT @paintliquor

STEADICAM OPERATOR GRANT SANDY-PHILLIPS @grantskg      

1st ASSISTANT CAMERA MURAT AKYILDIZ

2nd ASSISTANT CAMERA JACK LIGHTFOOT @lighty_foot

DIT RISHI RAO

GAFFER LAURENT ARNAUD @sparkswars

LIGHTING DESK OPERATOR JACK RYAN @jackryanlx

ELECTRICIAN ANNA BROOKS-BECKHAM

@Anna Brooks-Beckman

ELECTRICIAN KRUNAL SAADRANI @krunalsaadrani

LIGHTING RIGGER CHARLIE BRYANT

CHOREOGRAPHY ASSISTANT & DANCER SHANELLE ‘TALI’ FERGUSON @tali_1301

STANDBY ART DIRECTOR MIKA LAPID @mikalapizza

SET ASSISTANT MARTHA HOWE @martha.howe

SET ASSISTANT DARRYL OTTEN @darrylotten

STYLIST, NAO RAMARIO CHEVOY @ramariochevoy

COSTUME DESIGNER, NAO MAYA SCARLETTE @mayascarlettex

BODY ART ASSISTANT SUZANNE EDWARDS

HAIR STYLIST, DANCERS SHAMARA ROPER @shamara_roper

HAIR STYLIST ASSISTANT, DANCERS SHEREE-JOURDAN @x_sjourdan

COVID TESTING & MEDIC E&T MEDICAL

EDIT HOUSE TRIM EDITING @trimediting

EDITOR LAURA CAIRNEY-KEIZE @laura.c.k

POST PRODUCTION HOUSE, VFX BUTTERSCOTCH POST @butterscotchpost

VFX POST PRODUCER FATIMA OUKLILANE @powerffleur

VFX COMPOSITOR ROBERT CHANDLER 

VFX COMPOSITOR CHRISTOPHER JAMES BROWN

POST PRODUCTION HOUSE, COLOUR THE MILL @millchannel

COLOUR EXECUTIVE PRODUCER CHARLIE MORRIS @charlesedmorris

COLOURIST ALEX GREGORY @alexgregorycolour

CAMERA KIT SUPPLIER ONE STOP FILMS @onestopfilms

LIGHTING KIT SUPPLIER GLO FILM LIGHTING @glofilmlighting

RIGGING EQUIPMENT SUPPLIER TRADITIONAL FILM RIGGING

SCISSOR LIFT SUPPLIER MEDIA ACCESS SOLUTIONS @mediaaccesssolutions

STUDIO AND CATERING SUGAR STUDIOS @sugarstudiosgreenwich

SPECIAL THANKS TO JO WALLACE @joeydovetail, SALVADOR GOMEZ-LOPEZ @ @glofilmlighting, MARGAUX BARUCH @mags_bch, WPA @wpagency & SILVERBACK CREW @silverback_crew

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Behind the Paint: Breast Cancer Won't Beat Us!

In honour of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I thought it pertinent to share this beautiful behind the scenes look and feature from The Sunday Express last year, conceived by The Pink Ribbon Foundation UK, and sponsored by both Valspar Paint, and The Sunday Express, and photographed by the very talented Sam Pearce. Taking up the centre pages, this beautiful work created by a team of exceptionally talented individuals, empowered those suffering and surviving breast cancer with true creative aplomb. I was honoured to be a copainter once again with the superbly talented contemporary bodypainter, Filippo Ioco, creator of Ioco Benefits, that lends his bodypainting prowess to multiple charities in need of a creative boost.

Filippo created the gorgeous backdrop for this project, and especially for the occasion, Valspar paint created two brand new shades: Pink Ribbon Care, and Pink Ribbon Support. Each time you purchase one of these, you can make a contribution to Pink Ribbon, and help in the fight against breast cancer.

Due to Covid, shoots like this are currently not going ahead due to safety concerns, and rightly so, but that doesn’t mean we can’t share the joy of the work we’ve created on those who needed the boost the most; surviving breast cancer and going through that process, is one of the hardest things a human being can do in their lifetime, and I’m proud to have taken part in a moment to raise their spirits and demonstrate to them, that despite what they have gone through, they are still strong, powerful and beautiful.

Joining us too was the superbly talented pop artist, Richard Hoffman. His first time to bodypaint, copainting with Richard was an absolute pleasure. Do check out his work, and see the list of the other very talented artists who were part of this incredible team below:

The brave Gina who revealed her inspirational story for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Long may she continue defying her doctor’s diagnosis.

I co-painted Andrew alongside Richard Hoffman as a piece of post treatment pop-art. Contrary to what many people believe, men can actually get breast cancer, currently this statistic stands at 1 percent, but as so many men don’t check their chests, this number could be a sizeable misrepresentation of the true figure. So gentlemen, do make sure to check your chests for any unusual lumps and bumps.

I have so much admiration for Laura for doing this. Life is finite, and I’m glad she is able to embrace new and exciting things while she still can. No matter her diagnosis or curability, she has every right to feel beautiful and powerful.

This was an incredibly brave decision for Fran; doing something that Angelina Jolie did when she found out that she had the same gene responsible for breast cancer. I also created a bodypaint piece some time ago on the BRCA2 gene in The Guardian Science. You can take a look at the article and paints here, or wait for the upload to my site, coming this week for Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Helen followed in the same footsteps as Angelina Jolie for peace of mind, and feels so much happier for doing so. Despite Kaz getting a double diagnosis, she is a force to be reckoned with. Check out her instagram here.

Rosemary is still carrying on making her amazing music despite Covid laced adversity.

The diversity of Vickie and Samantha’s stories show just how important it is to both keep being persistent if you think something is wrong, and to also choose the path that’s right for you in your treatment. “Flat is beautiful” is a very powerful statement in contemporary society where women seem to be constantly encouraged to go bigger. I applaud her for making the choice that was right for her.

Just a few of the beautiful memories from the day. Lifting people up and empowering them is one of the main reasons I paint. You can make any issue relevant, humane, and able to be talked about. If you’re worried about breast cancer, you can go to https://nbcf.org.au/about-breast-cancer/detection-and-awareness/how-to-check-for-breast-cancer-symptoms/ to look at signs, symptoms and how to check yourself for any changes that you may be worried about. And men, it affects 1 in 675 of you, so make sure to check yourselves too.

I can’t wait for the time when we can do shoots like these again.

Gugenheim in James Bond 2020- No Time To Die

Official trailer for No Time To Die, featuring Daniel Craig, directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga

The latest film the the 007 franchise, No Time to Die follows James Bond as he’s left the service, only to be pulled back in for one last mission…

Gugenhiem did their own makeup and some of their own styling in the new James Bond film, No Time To Die. A small villain role, it lead to Gugenheim being called “The White Grace Jones” on set. No spoilers sadly, you’ll have to watch the entire thing to find out what happens.

Makeup sponsor: Cameleon Paint. Eyebrows did in fact, survive running away from live gunfire.

Watch the trailer

Official Site

Freedom festival: DeBalie 2019

Victoria is delighted to announce that she has been invited as a keynote protest artist with the interactive piece, #99RedBalloons, to this historic event, championing freedom of thought and expression. Featuring 50 artists and important activists from over 30 countries, DeBalie is an historic conference for activists across the planet, and takes place at DeBalie, Netherlands from 31st August - 1st September.

Tickets available here.

The festival Celebrating Dissent honours freedom: freedom to think differently, freedom not to believe and freedom to be yourself.

Don't miss it!

Full Schedule Breakdown Below:

This interview marathon offers an in-depth and intimate conversation with some of the keynote speakers of Celebrating Dissent. They share their personal stories. What drives them in their professional lives and how are they trying to make a difference through their work? 

All of the speakers have made huge sacrifices in order to live their lives according to their own ideals. Their believes have cost them their personal safety and the possibility to live in the country where they were born. Nonetheless, they continue their fight against oppression, for equal rights and women’s rights. 

Every hour one speaker will be interviewed by a programmemaker of De Balie. During the marathon it is possible to stretch your legs and walk in and out. Guests are invited to bring food and drinks from De Balie’s restaurant to the interviews.

With:

Inna Shevchenko is the leader of FEMEN, topless activists against various manifestations of patriarchy, including dictatorship, religion, and the sex industry. She was kidnapped and threatened by the Belarus KGB in 2011 and was given political asylum in France. During her speech on 14 February 2015 a terrorist opened fire in the lobby of where the debate took place. Surviving the attack, Shevchenko later said, “Liberal voices should be louder than Kalashnikovs”.

Maryam Namazie is an Iranian-born writer and activist. She is the Spokesperson for Fitnah – Movement for Women’s Liberation, One Law for All and the Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain. The Islamic regime of Iran’s media outlets has called Namazie ‘immoral and corrupt’ and she has been barred and no platformed for speaking out against Islam and Islamism and defending the right to apostasy and blasphemy.

Taslima Nasrin is an award-winning writer, physician, and activist, known for her powerful writings on women oppression and unflinching criticism of religion, despite forced exile and multiple fatwas calling for her death.

Zineb El Rhazoui is a Moroccan-born French journalist. She used to be a journalist of the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, where she was absent on the day of the murderous attack. After that she became the most protected woman in France. She is a passionate critic of Islam and a prominent secularist.

Saif-Ul-Malook is Asia Bibi’s lawyer. Asia Bibi, a Christian woman, was on death row for eight years accused of blasphemy after a quarrel with Muslim neighbours. Saif ul-Malook successfully defended Ms Bibi and she was released on appeal in 2018. After her release, he received death threats and had to flee.

31 AUGUST 2019

11:00: A Conversation on Women’s Dissent with Inna Shevchenko, Maryam Namazie, Taslima Nasrin and Zineb El Razoui. Music by Shelley Segal. Keynote interactive Protest Art by Victoria Gugenheim.

14:00: Touching the Holy Subject with Nadia El Fani, Saif Ul Malook and Sarah Haider. Music by Veedu Vidz.

16:00: Comedy, the Sacred and Islamophobia with Shabana Rehman, Ali Rizvi and Armin Nabavi.

19:00: Separation of Religion from the State with Afsana Lachaux, Annie Laurie Gaylor, Elżbieta Podleśna, Homa Arjomand and Marieme Helie Lucas.

21:00: Women against Gods with Gita Sahgal, Houzan Mahmoud, Ibtissame Betty Lachgar, Mineke Schipper and Rana Ahmad. Performance by Atoosa Farahmand.

1 SEPTEMBER 2019

10:00: Film Screening Neither Allah Nor Master by Nadia El Fani followed by a conversation with Hind Bariaz, Ismail Mohamed, Karrar Al Asfoor, Wissam Charafeddine and Zara Kay.

12:00: Film Screening No Longer without You by Nazmiyeh Oral followed by a conversation with Cemal Knudsen Yucel, Fauzia Ilyas, Mimzy Vidz, Omar Makram, Rishvin Ismath, Sohail Ahmad and Zehra Pala.

16:00: On Identity with Kenan Malik, Harris Sultan, Jimmy Bangash, Rahila Gupta and Yasmin Rehman. Poetry by Halima Salat.

20:00: Between Islamists and the Alt-Right with Halima Salat, Maryam Namazie, Mohamed Hisham, Muhammed Syed, Rishvin Ismath, Sadia Hameed and Sami Abdallah. Music by Shelley Segal.

There will also be artwork by Mahshad Afshar and Jenny Wenhammar.

The official logo of DeBalie’s Freedom of Expression festival. Get tickets here.

Gugenheim on Channel 4- The Superhuman Body Handbook

“I’ve never felt so sexy, powerful, unique!” - Deb Roach

Due to popular demand, Victoria has released the trailer for the Superhuman Body Handbook paint here, which was the world’s first 3D UV Paint on a disabled champion poledancer.

You can see more of this episode as part of the groundbreaking Rio Paralympics special over on the All4 website, as part of their series on unique and powerful bodies that defy disability stereotypes.

Deb Roach is a world champion pole dancer and member of Extraordinary Bodies, with a difference; she was born without most of her left arm, but that doesn’t hold her back. Through careful guidance and attention to detail, Victoria paints a 3D UV bodypaint piece on her as a way to empower her spirit, give her immense confidence, and also, to create something uniquely beautiful, while taking her out of her comfort zone. Through each brushstroke, more about Deb’s dynamic nature is revealed, the bodypaint being specifically tailored to Roach’s needs- her love of triangles, dynamic, strong shapes and strokes that embody movement are all included to make this beautiful piece a one of a kind experience.

After the 3D makeup was applied, Deb really started coming to life, reveling in the paint.

Artworks like this are some of Victoria’s favourites and are the most rewarding. After creating the piece, Deb Roach was seen running about the London Dance Academy shouting “I don’t want to take (the paint) off!”

To inquire about paints for Film and TV, you’re welcome to use the Experience Gugenheim form. If your inquiry is urgent, please send your inquiry to book@gugenheim.co.uk

Deb roach has been featured across the globe from The International Pole Championships, to Barcroft TV. You can follow Deb Roach’s work here.

Filmed at the London Dance Academy,

See the entire video over on Channel 4

Sponsored by Cameleon Bodypaint

Victoria’s #99 Red Balloons Art Installation Goes on Tour

First Stop, DeBalie, Netherlands (More information on this brilliant event in our next post).

The plight of atheists and apostates increasingly seems dire. Here, at one of the world’s best free thought conferences among superstar of the field. Gugenheim takes #99 red balloons on tour, in solidarity with persecuted atheists and apostates; each balloon representing an atheist who has been imprisoned, punished or killed, simply for their non beliefs. It shows the immediacy of that horror - that person has a name, a family even, and the audience symbolically, has their life in their hands.

A powerful and moving piece, #99 red balloons is set to raise money for both atheist and secular organisations alike to help fund vital activism so these people can be protected, while raising awareness of both the horrors of their imprisonment and maltreatment.

This piece will also be filmed as part of Victoria’s residency with One Law for All

Tour coming to: Netherlands//Berlin//LA

Ticket availability will be coming to the both the exhibition and news sections in due course- stay tuned.

CASTING: Immortal Enemies Exhibition

World Award Winning Bodypainter and World Ranking makeup artist Victoria Gugenheim is looking for breast cancer survivors, their allies and their friends to take part in bodypainting shoots and live art to raise funds for multiple breast cancer charities.

Check the downloadable casting pack below, and e-mail castings@gugenheim.co.uk to be considered

Gugenheim Stars in Documentary: Portrait of a Bodypainter

Created by rising star David Addis, This documentary shows Victoria’s passion for the art subject, worldview, how one can create their own work, and much more.

Created for the series Portrait of a Bodypainter, this goes far beyond a documentary on bodypainting, delving behind the scenes and into Victoria’s mind.

The bodypaint itself was created in just two hours, with no airbrushes or stencils used.

In episode 4 I speak to Victoria Gugenheim, a world award winning bodypainter, fine artist, activist and sciartist. She does a speed bodypaint in 2 hours and discusses the finer details of bringing attention to social issues through art. https://www.gugenheim.co.uk/ Filmed at the Riverside Building in Hammersmith, London.

The beautfiul isabela strikes a pose in her fashion inspired 2 hour speed bodypaint, created by Victoria Gugenheim.

Photo: David Addis

Gugenheim Joins International Bodypainter Filippo Ioco for PINK London

PINK London is a fantastic fundraising event, part Body Art exhibition, part cocktail party, auction, and everything inbetween created by Ioco Benefits , a venture that work alongside the Pink Ribbon Foundation created by the Face Off guest judge, Filippo Ioco, to raise funds for breast cancer charities. At this star studded event including a multitude of  X Factor celebrities, Victoria was a copainter for the entire evening, helping to create the iconic pink ladies featured accross Europe at every PINK party and more. The event was generously sponsored by Flamingo Candles at the chic Bar Zebrano and all proceeds raised go straight to the charities that need it. Now returning to London for its 4th year, Victoria is set to paint alongside the inimitable Filippo Ioco once more. 

As ever, Victoria is sponsored by Cameleon Paint. Let's paint the world Cameleon! 



 

Victoria Creates #99RedBalloons in Solidarity with Perseucuted Atheists at International Secular Humanist Conference

#99RedBalloons was a Protest art installation standing in solidarity with persecuted atheists and blasphemers from across the globe, involving notable atheists including David Silverman of American Atheists.

The first of her protest installations, Victoria Gugenheim wants to carry on making bigger and bolder works of art in solidarity with those persecuted simply for nonbelief.

Each blood red balloon in the installation had the name of an atheist who had been persecuted or killed simply for their nonbelief, along with their reason for conviction and death or persecution date; akin to a toe tag on a cadaver.

The meaning of this was to bring an immediacy to the fact that atheists are persecuted, punished, taken away from their families, and killed accross the world, notably in Islamic states. But when a problem happens overseas, it's all too easy for people to see the problem as problem "over there". When one is holding something linking them to the event, it creates an immediacy; evidenced by one of the attendees breaking down crying at the "power of the protest". Another ended up holding a balloon with the tag of his friend on it: he found out on that night, that his friend had been assassinated.

Victoria believes that these pieces of work are vital in creating empathy and solidarity with those suffering under oppressive regimes, and that they encourage others to take action in fighting for the rights of people to not believe in any religion, with much more of her works coming up relating to this.

See her personal account of the work over on her instagram.


Watch the video here, or check out the photo's of the event below.

Gugenheim made world's 1st Bodypainter turned keynote speaker at Atheist conference.

22-7-2017

Victoria Gugenheim has been made the World's 1st Bodypainter to ever become a keynote speaker at any atheist event at The International Secular Humanist Conference. This historic event will feature over 70 speakers and freethinkers from around the planet, coming together to discuss freedom of expression, apostasy, blasphemy, freethought and more. Along with this, she became the resident artist, photographer, graphic artist, and chair, chairing the panel between Richard Dawkins, A.C Grayling, Benjamin David, Sarah Haider and Mazen Abou Hamdan of Freethought Lebanon. Panels and interviews from the conference will be coming soon.

 

Promo created by Victoria Gugenheim for The International Secular Humanist Conference. A full breakdown of the speakers used in making of it coming soon.

Gugenheim Takes Triple Residency

14-7-2017

Gugenheim Takes Triple Residency

Victoria Gugenheim has been made the resident Artist of CEMB, One Law For All, and The International Secular Humanist Conference. Her artwork has now extends to public protest art, body art en masse, and much more.

New Exhibitions Set until 2021

11-7-2017

NEW EXHIBITIONS SET UNTIL 2021

International exhibitions and tours are now set until 2021, with new artworks and projects being announced regularly. Check the exhibitions page for further details.

"The Protector" - A piece reinvisioning the idea of Kali as a maternal superhero, patrolling the streets of Manhattan at night.
Special Thanks: Garou Graphics

Gugenheim Made Resident Judge of Gibraltar Face and Bodypainting Festival

8-7-2017

Victoria is now the resident judge, public demo artist and masterclass runner of The Gibraltar Bodypainting Festival, and a member of the Gibraltar Bodypainting Association. After a resounding success in 2017, Victoria is excited at what this new residency can achieve in partnership with the Gibraltar Cultural Association.

 

You can check out Gibraltar's annual face and bodypainting festival here