Argentina and Patagonia

Argentina and Patagonia are regions of southern South America, home to several Indigenous peoples including Tehuelche and Selk'nam communities. The Gran Chaco and Tierra del Fuego each had their own body arts.

Historical accounts describe Tehuelche painting for particular life events, alongside less common tattoos. Women in parts of the Gran Chaco wore more elaborate facial designs, including lines and geometric forms.

Selk'nam body painting took a dramatic form during the Hain ceremony in Tierra del Fuego. Patterns and colour transformed participants into ceremonial figures. Their appearance belonged to the event, rather than to everyday dress.

Skin garments, ornaments and other painted designs add to the variety. Colonial violence devastated these communities, but descendants and cultural identities continue. The pictures preserve moments in their histories, including the remarkable skill of making a human body appear like something entirely different.