4 June 07 Next week, the NZ Body Art Awards will be held in Auckland, and if last year's entries were anything to go by, this year is going to rock!

Brainchild of the NZ Body Art Awards, Ms Bourke says the event serve to showcase, acknowledge and promote the many talented and hardworking New Zealander's practising the art form. ?The NZ Body Art Foundation was established to support the education of New Zealand?s special effects artists and promote their talents to a global audience", says Ms Bourke. "Our mission is to promote New Zealand as a centre of expertise in body art, make-up and special effects to both local and international film and television networks".

This entry, above, is from the 2006 Body Art Awards.

Now in it's second year of running, the NZ Body Art Awards is one of New Zealand's most exciting experimental creative events. Richard Taylor will be a Guest judge on the night, is delighted to be involved in such an exciting event. ?I?m just so pleased that [creator] Mem Bourke has taken this on board and created such an inspired and professional event which treats local artists with such respect", he says.

This year?s NZ Body Arts Awards will have ten separate categories including airbrushing, body painting, prosthetics, masquerade, tribal and fluorescent illusion - not to be missed!

Ever get the feeling that someone's behind you?

The Body Art Awards will be held on Sat 16 June 16 at the North Shore Events Centre in Northcote. Tickets are available from Ticketek.

Check out images from last year's Body Art Awards here and visit www.bodyartawards.co.nz.

Thanks to Maz for the choice pix!