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Suspension (body modification)
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Suspension (body modification)
Body suspension is the act of rigging a human body to hang from implements that have been placed through temporary perforations in the skin.
A number of health concerns might be associated with the practice, such as excessive bleeding, fainting, fall injuries, and infections.
Body suspension has historically been practiced by different cultures around the world. The Thaipusam festival, celebrated by the Tamil Hindu community on the full moon in the Tamil month of Thai (January/February), features body suspension. The Charak Puja, a Hindu folk festival in honour of the god Shiva or Dharmathakur, also features body suspension.
In North America, the Okipa ceremony - which includes piercing and suspension - has been a major part of Mandan religious life. This ceremony of the Plains Indians tribe first became known outside the tribe in 1832. This complex ceremony about the creation of the earth was glimpsed, and then aspects of it depicted for a non-Native public, by painter George Catlin. The piercing and suspension is only one part of the Okipa ceremony.
Modern-day suspensions, as performed by non-Natives, are influenced by the Modern Primitivism movement and based on imitations of Catlin's artwork combined with the experimental creations of fellow performance artists. Artists involved in creating modern suspension experiences include Allen Falkner, who first introduced suspension as a secular activity; the researcher Stelarc, who performed suspensions in the 70s and 80s, including hanging himself between skyscrapers, Fakir Musafar (Roland Loomis), and singer Miguel.
The process is very delicate and is typically done carefully by an experienced individual or professional of the field in order to avoid serious injury. Suspension may require and often has a small group who handle preparations and the process itself. The actual act of being suspended may take up a tiny portion of time compared to the time involved in preparation, though some people remain suspended for hours.
The suspendee's body is studied to decide the proper placement, number, and size of metal hooks which are pierced into the skin to lift the person off the ground. Depending on the position in which the body is to be suspended, multiple hooks are sometimes located around the shoulders, upper arm, back, and the knees. Finding the proper hook placement and number involves basic geometry and an acute understanding of human anatomy and physiology, as well as the durability of the individual's skin. If the number of hooks are too few, the suspended individual's skin will be unable to withstand the body's weight and will rip. The amount of weight that each hook supports must be distributed evenly throughout the entire body.
A block and tackle intended for rock climbing and rope that attaches to the hooks is used to slowly and carefully lift an individual a foot or two off the ground — where they may remain relatively motionless for a predetermined period of time. Some also choose to have more dynamic suspensions, where they swing or are pushed around the area.
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Suspension (body modification)
Body suspension is the act of rigging a human body to hang from implements that have been placed through temporary perforations in the skin.
A number of health concerns might be associated with the practice, such as excessive bleeding, fainting, fall injuries, and infections.
Body suspension has historically been practiced by different cultures around the world. The Thaipusam festival, celebrated by the Tamil Hindu community on the full moon in the Tamil month of Thai (January/February), features body suspension. The Charak Puja, a Hindu folk festival in honour of the god Shiva or Dharmathakur, also features body suspension.
In North America, the Okipa ceremony - which includes piercing and suspension - has been a major part of Mandan religious life. This ceremony of the Plains Indians tribe first became known outside the tribe in 1832. This complex ceremony about the creation of the earth was glimpsed, and then aspects of it depicted for a non-Native public, by painter George Catlin. The piercing and suspension is only one part of the Okipa ceremony.
Modern-day suspensions, as performed by non-Natives, are influenced by the Modern Primitivism movement and based on imitations of Catlin's artwork combined with the experimental creations of fellow performance artists. Artists involved in creating modern suspension experiences include Allen Falkner, who first introduced suspension as a secular activity; the researcher Stelarc, who performed suspensions in the 70s and 80s, including hanging himself between skyscrapers, Fakir Musafar (Roland Loomis), and singer Miguel.
The process is very delicate and is typically done carefully by an experienced individual or professional of the field in order to avoid serious injury. Suspension may require and often has a small group who handle preparations and the process itself. The actual act of being suspended may take up a tiny portion of time compared to the time involved in preparation, though some people remain suspended for hours.
The suspendee's body is studied to decide the proper placement, number, and size of metal hooks which are pierced into the skin to lift the person off the ground. Depending on the position in which the body is to be suspended, multiple hooks are sometimes located around the shoulders, upper arm, back, and the knees. Finding the proper hook placement and number involves basic geometry and an acute understanding of human anatomy and physiology, as well as the durability of the individual's skin. If the number of hooks are too few, the suspended individual's skin will be unable to withstand the body's weight and will rip. The amount of weight that each hook supports must be distributed evenly throughout the entire body.
A block and tackle intended for rock climbing and rope that attaches to the hooks is used to slowly and carefully lift an individual a foot or two off the ground — where they may remain relatively motionless for a predetermined period of time. Some also choose to have more dynamic suspensions, where they swing or are pushed around the area.
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