A black-and-white photo of a person mid-air in a Superman-style body suspension pose, supported by multiple hooks in their back and legs, smiling joyfully toward the camera. They are suspended horizontally in a large indoor space with high ceilings and visible rigging. A group of onlookers—some seated, some standing—watch with expressions of admiration, amusement, and support. The atmosphere is lively and communal, capturing a moment of shared experience and transformation.

The Earth Beneath


It should come as no surprise that Steve, John and Wayde are the suppliers of (and inspirations for) these most graven of images. On Easter Monday, no less!

Says Steve:

Mr. Wayde Dunn-Dee himself did this amazing scar portrait on a friend of ours. We were hoping to find a fourth person she would agree to add on so he could do a Mt. Rushmore of Awesomeness, but sadly that didn’t work out.

I have to be honest—I’m a little surprised she went this far in the first place. That said though, we haven’t seen a ton of scarification portraits yet, but…these are pretty well executed. More photos, after the jump.

Comments

252 responses to “The Earth Beneath”

  1. K Avatar
    K

    Ps I have to leave Wayde out of most of my criticism. He is the talent behind all of these finely executed scars and kind of deserves to have his portrait somewhere.

  2. K Avatar
    K

    Ps I have to leave Wayde out of most of my criticism. He is the talent behind all of these finely executed scars and kind of deserves to have his portrait somewhere.

  3. E-Rich Avatar

    I always wondered what stigmata would look like with a beard….

  4. E-Rich Avatar

    I always wondered what stigmata would look like with a beard….

  5. squirrelgirl Avatar
    squirrelgirl

    Wow! I cannot believe how angry some people are getting over this! I personally have work by Wade and Steve and I met Stigmata during one of my procedures and all three of them were very nice. I have had numerous implants done by Steve and he was nothing but professional both times he worked on me. Wade was the exact same way! So I think people who critize talent in this industry need to get over “themselves” and stop assuming that these guys have egos and think of themselves as rockstars! And if they do think of themselves as rockstars, than that is ok because their work speaks for itself.

  6. squirrelgirl Avatar
    squirrelgirl

    Wow! I cannot believe how angry some people are getting over this! I personally have work by Wade and Steve and I met Stigmata during one of my procedures and all three of them were very nice. I have had numerous implants done by Steve and he was nothing but professional both times he worked on me. Wade was the exact same way! So I think people who critize talent in this industry need to get over “themselves” and stop assuming that these guys have egos and think of themselves as rockstars! And if they do think of themselves as rockstars, than that is ok because their work speaks for itself.

  7. C_R_A_S_H Avatar

    HAHAHAHAHA!!! amazing!

    I think it is awesome! and wanna be rockstars??? haha i don think it gets any more rockstar that this! How many of you would ever have the opportunity for some lady to ask you to do this to her? I think shes lucky! hahah Thats the closest any man of their liking will get near her vagina.

    Kids…I believe she already has some. If she was concerned what her stomach was going to look like, she wouldn’t of had those. 😉 no offense. We all know what birthing children does to most women.

    and even if all of you think it’s “poor execution”, how many people do each of us know that got a bad tattoo, or worst off, got some girl friend of boy’s name tattooed on them?

    for fuck sake people, this is BME! its ok to cut your junk off, but to get a portrait? oh my god, the world is ending!

    and the only way any of you could be more offended is if i posted my vagina! hahah we know how mad that makes all of you! 😉

  8. C_R_A_S_H Avatar

    HAHAHAHAHA!!! amazing!

    I think it is awesome! and wanna be rockstars??? haha i don think it gets any more rockstar that this! How many of you would ever have the opportunity for some lady to ask you to do this to her? I think shes lucky! hahah Thats the closest any man of their liking will get near her vagina.

    Kids…I believe she already has some. If she was concerned what her stomach was going to look like, she wouldn’t of had those. 😉 no offense. We all know what birthing children does to most women.

    and even if all of you think it’s “poor execution”, how many people do each of us know that got a bad tattoo, or worst off, got some girl friend of boy’s name tattooed on them?

    for fuck sake people, this is BME! its ok to cut your junk off, but to get a portrait? oh my god, the world is ending!

    and the only way any of you could be more offended is if i posted my vagina! hahah we know how mad that makes all of you! 😉

  9. Lucky Avatar
    Lucky

    Your vagina makes people mad??? 🙂

  10. Lucky Avatar
    Lucky

    Your vagina makes people mad??? 🙂

  11. RuinsOfDecay Avatar
    RuinsOfDecay

    i think it is funny. it brings up this one time… WWSTD? and as far as people saying it looks flat or its too busy.. leave it to the professionals to decide how to do it. they didnt get somewhere and didnt get a good name for being bad artists. This whole business with k is ignorant. if you want a tattoo and you want them on your hands first so be it. each person has their own body and if they want to.. can do whatever they want to it. there is no handbook for what to get first and what not to. not everyone wants to be covered in tattoos so who cares even if there is minimal work on their arms etc they have a right to modify their bodies however they want and with as minimal amount of work or as much amount of work as they want. p.s. i almost peed my pants at this article

  12. RuinsOfDecay Avatar
    RuinsOfDecay

    i think it is funny. it brings up this one time… WWSTD? and as far as people saying it looks flat or its too busy.. leave it to the professionals to decide how to do it. they didnt get somewhere and didnt get a good name for being bad artists. This whole business with k is ignorant. if you want a tattoo and you want them on your hands first so be it. each person has their own body and if they want to.. can do whatever they want to it. there is no handbook for what to get first and what not to. not everyone wants to be covered in tattoos so who cares even if there is minimal work on their arms etc they have a right to modify their bodies however they want and with as minimal amount of work or as much amount of work as they want. p.s. i almost peed my pants at this article

  13. Demolitionhick Avatar

    I dont get the whole “she doesnt have enough coverage” thing. Even if she didnt have her whole arms done I dont see why that should effect her getting her hands done.

  14. Demolitionhick Avatar

    I dont get the whole “she doesnt have enough coverage” thing. Even if she didnt have her whole arms done I dont see why that should effect her getting her hands done.

  15. Andy Avatar

    A few people have mentioned portrait tattoos, and there is a good point to be made there. The subject of a portrait is typically based on some importance of the subject to the person, whether it be Elvis, a family member, or maybe some important figure in your subculture. As anyone who has read modern primitives may remember, there was a gentleman who had a portrait of The Great Omi, clearly an historical figure in tattooing. So perhaps a good subject for a body piercing enthusiast or even a piercer would perhaps be Jim Ward or Patrick Bartholomew? Would anyone bat an eyelid if a person chose to get a portrait of one of those guys? For scarification, there are some prominent figures now, why not immortalize them in their medium of choice?

    That said, I don’t know her motivation. Maybe she just plain loves body art and loves those involved enough to make the sentiment permanent.

    And jeez, not enough love for the work. Good job Wayde 🙂

  16. Andy Avatar

    A few people have mentioned portrait tattoos, and there is a good point to be made there. The subject of a portrait is typically based on some importance of the subject to the person, whether it be Elvis, a family member, or maybe some important figure in your subculture. As anyone who has read modern primitives may remember, there was a gentleman who had a portrait of The Great Omi, clearly an historical figure in tattooing. So perhaps a good subject for a body piercing enthusiast or even a piercer would perhaps be Jim Ward or Patrick Bartholomew? Would anyone bat an eyelid if a person chose to get a portrait of one of those guys? For scarification, there are some prominent figures now, why not immortalize them in their medium of choice?

    That said, I don’t know her motivation. Maybe she just plain loves body art and loves those involved enough to make the sentiment permanent.

    And jeez, not enough love for the work. Good job Wayde 🙂

  17. Jack Avatar
    Jack

    When did BMEzine get so fucking judgemental?

  18. Jack Avatar
    Jack

    When did BMEzine get so fucking judgemental?

  19. _Stigmata_ Avatar

    all i can say is …..Im one hell of a role model

  20. _Stigmata_ Avatar

    all i can say is …..Im one hell of a role model

  21. heretic138 Avatar
    heretic138

    yes you are!

  22. heretic138 Avatar
    heretic138

    yes you are!

  23. Tera Avatar
    Tera

    She already has a band logo on her arm, it’s not like this is the first time she’s used her body to rep someone else’s art.
    Wouldn’t do it myself, but isn’t that why we all read modblog instead of just staring at our own bodies all day long?
    When I fall and skin my knee I don’t waste my time crying over how that scar will be there “forever.” Sometimes your body is just a record of the places you’ve been in life and the things you’ve loved. Tastes change but your past doesn’t, things can be just nice as mementoes.

  24. Tera Avatar
    Tera

    She already has a band logo on her arm, it’s not like this is the first time she’s used her body to rep someone else’s art.
    Wouldn’t do it myself, but isn’t that why we all read modblog instead of just staring at our own bodies all day long?
    When I fall and skin my knee I don’t waste my time crying over how that scar will be there “forever.” Sometimes your body is just a record of the places you’ve been in life and the things you’ve loved. Tastes change but your past doesn’t, things can be just nice as mementoes.

  25. Ashley_Darling Avatar

    i think that modblog should make it so that only people who link to their pages, their actual pages, should be allowed to post. most of the negative stuff comes from anon. people. it’s really starting to get annoying to read mean things.

    on a side note, i think this is a cute funny idea 🙂

  26. Ashley_Darling Avatar

    i think that modblog should make it so that only people who link to their pages, their actual pages, should be allowed to post. most of the negative stuff comes from anon. people. it’s really starting to get annoying to read mean things.

    on a side note, i think this is a cute funny idea 🙂

  27. Holly Avatar
    Holly

    Now everyone hold hands, tattoed or not 🙂

  28. Holly Avatar
    Holly

    Now everyone hold hands, tattoed or not 🙂

  29. Paul Este Avatar
    Paul Este

    K, sounds like you wish you were the one getting the publicity here.
    Maybe you should get something just as silly to show her up and get your own name on modblog.

  30. Paul Este Avatar
    Paul Este

    K, sounds like you wish you were the one getting the publicity here.
    Maybe you should get something just as silly to show her up and get your own name on modblog.

  31. colin Avatar
    colin

    ok, I’ve been negative and i’ve definitely been judgmental about this. but I can say one thing. at least I have an opinion and my reasons to support it. unlike all the so called positive people who just keep saying such intellectual things as “lolz” or reply with sarcastic humour(that isn’t even funny). i’m still waiting to see the humour. and I’m also still waiting for the actual girl that goes to show up and tell us why. I especially would love to know why stigmata has no idea why she got it when he was there for a photo. you never thought to ask why someone has a portrait of you on there body? THIS WAS STRICTLY FOR ATTENTION!! PROVE ME WRONG. I WOULD LOVE IT!

  32. colin Avatar
    colin

    ok, I’ve been negative and i’ve definitely been judgmental about this. but I can say one thing. at least I have an opinion and my reasons to support it. unlike all the so called positive people who just keep saying such intellectual things as “lolz” or reply with sarcastic humour(that isn’t even funny). i’m still waiting to see the humour. and I’m also still waiting for the actual girl that goes to show up and tell us why. I especially would love to know why stigmata has no idea why she got it when he was there for a photo. you never thought to ask why someone has a portrait of you on there body? THIS WAS STRICTLY FOR ATTENTION!! PROVE ME WRONG. I WOULD LOVE IT!

  33. colin Avatar
    colin

    and I quote:

    Says Steve:

    Mr. Wayde Dunn-Dee himself did this amazing scar portrait on a friend of ours. WE WERE HOPING TO FIND A FOURTH PERSON SHE WOULD AGREE TO ADD on so he could do a Mt. Rushmore of Awesomeness, but sadly that didn’t work out.

    too bad you couldn’t talk her into anything else.

  34. colin Avatar
    colin

    and I quote:

    Says Steve:

    Mr. Wayde Dunn-Dee himself did this amazing scar portrait on a friend of ours. WE WERE HOPING TO FIND A FOURTH PERSON SHE WOULD AGREE TO ADD on so he could do a Mt. Rushmore of Awesomeness, but sadly that didn’t work out.

    too bad you couldn’t talk her into anything else.

  35. _Stigmata_ Avatar

    I dont ask people why they want any specific work done on them. why would this be any different. i dont need to ask a girl why she wants my face on her. its a given. i am just that awesome to be there.

  36. _Stigmata_ Avatar

    I dont ask people why they want any specific work done on them. why would this be any different. i dont need to ask a girl why she wants my face on her. its a given. i am just that awesome to be there.

  37. _Stigmata_ Avatar

    hahaha steves words…. agree… not be talked into. if it was us talkin her into anything i would have put hitler in there with his arm around me. bottom line. there was enough awesome in the 3 of us to be enough for her

  38. _Stigmata_ Avatar

    hahaha steves words…. agree… not be talked into. if it was us talkin her into anything i would have put hitler in there with his arm around me. bottom line. there was enough awesome in the 3 of us to be enough for her

  39. Aric Avatar

    This is one of the most disgusting situations, as far as obscene avarice, to ever be posted on this blog or site. That says a hell of a lot.

  40. Aric Avatar

    This is one of the most disgusting situations, as far as obscene avarice, to ever be posted on this blog or site. That says a hell of a lot.

  41. narcissist Avatar
    narcissist

    “This is one of the most disgusting situations, as far as obscene avarice, to ever be posted on this blog or site. That says a hell of a lot.”

    omg, i know thats what aric wrote, but what i think he meant was

    “we’re all a bunch of whiney bitches that are jealous that someone out there isnt trying to take themsleves too seriously and are having fun with their lives.”

  42. narcissist Avatar
    narcissist

    “This is one of the most disgusting situations, as far as obscene avarice, to ever be posted on this blog or site. That says a hell of a lot.”

    omg, i know thats what aric wrote, but what i think he meant was

    “we’re all a bunch of whiney bitches that are jealous that someone out there isnt trying to take themsleves too seriously and are having fun with their lives.”

  43. narcissist Avatar
    narcissist

    p.s. http://www.iam.bmezine.com/?narcissist
    (you know, if your actually a member of the site.)

  44. narcissist Avatar
    narcissist

    p.s. http://www.iam.bmezine.com/?narcissist
    (you know, if your actually a member of the site.)

  45. Aric Avatar

    I probably would’ve gotten the URL right.

  46. Aric Avatar

    I probably would’ve gotten the URL right.

  47. Lesha Avatar

    why don’t you just ask me why I got it? fuck! it’s on MY body.

  48. Lesha Avatar

    why don’t you just ask me why I got it? fuck! it’s on MY body.

  49. Snap Dragon Avatar

    Not my thing,

    However I think it would of been even more funny if it has been on Jon’s instead !

  50. Snap Dragon Avatar

    Not my thing,

    However I think it would of been even more funny if it has been on Jon’s instead !

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