BME: Body Modification Ezine

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.

Tattoo, Piercing, and Body Modification News, Events, and Culture

  • Too hot to handle

    Written by

    Rob

    Last week we got a look at Supa’s amazing facial brandings.  Today we’ll see just how Anti from the Kaptive8 Suspension Krew set about creating those designs on Supa’s skull.  There are many ways to perform a branding, and each way can heal differently even on the same person.  I want to say that this is a strike branding, but because he’s heating up a scalpel, it looks like he’s cutting the designs into the flesh and cauterizing the wound at the same time, whereas a strike branding involves the hot object being placed on the skin.  No matter what you call it though, it’s going to hurt.

  • The Slithering Scar

    Written by

    Rob

    Over the past few days we’ve had quite a few submissions to the scarification galleries.  So I decided today is going to be only scarification and branding photos.  We’ve got a wide range of artists from all over the world, and to start us off is Lary from Larypiercing in Finland with this snake scar.

    Lary actually sent in quite a few photos, and we’ll be seeing him again later today.  He’s also going to be featured in this week’s Friday Follow-up, so keep an eye out for that as well.

  • Blue lights, big nostrils

    Written by

    Rob

    As far back as people have been putting holes in themselves, they’ve also been shoving anything they could find into said holes.  Gnomoweb is no different.  With his big nostrils and septum, he’s able to get what I think is a mini-light saber, all the way through his nose.  He’s also got a big hole in his lip for a lip plate, but you can’t really see it in this photo.

  • Lost in the design

    Written by

    Rob

    I seriously could look at Sonja‘s works for hours.  Her geometric stippling tattoos are consistently phenomenal, both in technique and design.  What I like most about this particular design is that it maintains it’s proportions across the entire piece, adjusting to the various curves and shapes of the leg.

  • Here there be beetles

    Written by

    Rob

    When I saw this, the first thing that came to my mind is that scene from The Mummy involving beetles crawling underneath the skin.  This scar by Lary from Larypiercing in Finland is a much more realistic portrayal of a beetle tearing through the skin.  Take a close look at the upper segments of the wings, Lary used cross-hatching to give the scar texture when it heals.

  • In west Philadelphia born and raised…

    Written by

    Rob

    In the tattoo shop is where he spent most of his days.

    He now sits on his throne as the Prince of Alissa Jane‘s leg.

    Alissa is the piercer at Atomic Zombie Tattoo in Edmonton, which is where the artist, Tony Sklepic, also works.

  • Never too young to start

    Written by

    Rob

    At a sprightly 72 years young, this lovely lady strolled into Courtney Jane Maxwell’s studio, TRX tattoos and piercing in St.Louis, MO, and got herself a brand new nostril piercing.

    It’s good to remember that the modified community is probably the most diverse one on the planet.  People young and old are bound together by the desire to change themselves to who they feel they should be.  And while she didn’t get anything considered “extreme”, I’m sure for her this was a significant event in her long life.  If anything, it put a smile on her face.

  • Guess What?

    Written by

    Rob

    Today’s guess what is definitely going to have you scratching your head.

    I suppose the question you should be asking yourself is if I would put up something that’s blatantly obvious, and have it actually be that thing?  It’s happened before, did it happen again?  Only one way to find out.  Make your guess and read on to see if you’re right.

    Those of you who said apadravya, collect 10 points.  If you also thought it was a standard male apadravya, then subtract 20 points.

    This, ladies and gents, is an apadravya piercing on a fully transitioned female to male transgendered person.  This particular person elected not to have bottom surgery, but the hormones have definitely altered his genitalia in such a way that this piercing was possible.  Courtney Jane Maxwell from TRX Tattoos and Piercings in St.Louis, MO did the piercing.

  • Don’t do this

    Written by

    Rob

    Seriously.  Don’t do this.  This isn’t me laying down a challenge, this is me saying this is one of the most dangerous things you’ll see on ModBlog and you shouldn’t ever even think of doing it.

    I’ve used this warning only once before, which was for Andrew’s facial suspension at Dallas Suscon.  At the time I mentioned that Andrew had been working on the suspension for years, training and doing research, as well as talking to the first person who pulled it off, Supa.  Well here is where it all started.  Supa’s first, and the world’s first, facial suspension.  Kaptive8 Suspension Krew, Supa’s team, was on hand to help him with this extremely dangerous suspension.

    Did I mention you shouldn’t do this?  Because you shouldn’t.

  • Remembering Keith Alexander

    Written by

    Rob

    It’s been 6 years now since Keith Alexander was taken from us too early.  Keith was a huge presence in both the online modified community, as well as the world at large.  As a student of Jim Ward’s, Keith opened up Modern American Bodyarts in NYC, a studio which defied the traditional “head em up, move em out, get their money” type of shops that were popular at the time.  He hosted many memorable events including the infamous “Night of 1000 scars”.  In addition to his modification work, he was also a rock star and had a successful career in marketing, where he was able to show the corporate world that just because someone is heavily modified, doesn’t mean they can’t do their job well.

    If you have time today, take a moment and read through the following articles, written by friends of Keith in the years following his passing.

    RTFM: Keith Alexander – An interview with Keith taken a few months before his passing.

    The Things That Carry Us – A collection of rememberances of Keith by those who knew him well.

    Employers Should Probably Start Making Peace With Tattoos – A short interview with Keith regarding tattoos in the workplace

    RIP Keith Alexander – (November 23, 1963 – July 11, 2005)