Total Mudness!

Jomi secured a position with the other photographers while I mingled with the audience. The excitement was palpable. We had a preview of their mud painted bodies while we were waiting for the show to start, and was now anticipating how they will showcase their living art.

It was a great show, a lot of brilliant body art coupled with exceptional performances - the most amazing for me was the performance of contestant #3, he resonated with quiet strength, grace and majesty. It reminded me a lot of Kabuki, it wasn't anymore a parade but theatre.

My choices for amazing art: contestants number 2, 4, 8, 10, 12, and 25. Noteworthy performances: 1, 3, 4, 12, 25

One of the contestant was holding a staff/prop on fire, and while he was doing his parade/dance one of his shin guards caught on fire. Admirably he tried to keep on dancing while trying to put it out, unfortunately his accessory was made to be kindle and he had to run off the stage to put it out.

There was a total of 31 contestants and they were cut down to 18. The top 18 were: 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 17, 19, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, and 30.

Then whittled down to 8: 2, 4, 7, 8, 19, 23, 25, 26 and 30.

WINNERS:
3rd place - #25 (Prize Php 3,000.00)
2nd place - #4 (Prize Php 4,000.00)
1st place - #2 (Prize Php 6,000.00)

Contestant #25's body paint looked like the pattern of a white tiger, his performance was a real hit - very consistent movements, playful and always in character even while waiting for the judges' decision. The audience loved him! The colors used on him was full white as base with black and gray mud for the patterns.

Contestant #4's body paint looked a lot like the human musculature, it was very very detailed. His head piece and arm guards completed the warrior look, the very long and spiny goatee accessory complemented the look well. His performance was very strong, a lot of stretching and flexing, and he also ran head on into the crowd and did a sudden stop. He exuded strength, confidence and the readiness for war. The colors used on him was reddish brown, black and white.

Contestant #2's body paint was very intricate, on the lower portion were vines climbing up his legs reaching for the sun painted on his chest and back. On his arms were a combination of different patterns - flame-like, swirls, web-like, rock-like textures, etc. His headpiece had feathers and leaves surrounding the Earth. This very much echoes the heart of the festival - Mother Earth... Sanctuary of Life.

All the performers together.

More picture on Jomi's Flicker Photostream

2009 Mudpack Festival
Mambukal Resort
June 20-21
Mother Earth... Sanctuary of Life

Looking forward to next year's festival!