New Zealand body artist Yolanda Batram has won the special effects face painting category at the World Body Painting Festival Championships with her creation 'Spell Bound'.

The World Championships in Seeboden in Austria was part of the week-long Festival where artists from up to 40 nations participate and compete. Artists paint directly on the festival site where their living artworks are then presented on stage.

Yolanda is flying back to New Zealand to compete in the NZ Body Art & Special Effects Awards at the Bruce Mason Centre on Saturday July 25.

“We are going to try out some extreme and unusual concepts at this awards it should be a blast,” says Yolanda.

Yolanda’s company Body FX is the largest of its kind in Australasia and they are entering over 8 artists competing in most categories. Last year Body FX won 4 Golds and 1 Silver at the NZ Body Art awards.

This year the NZ Body Art Awards theme is 'Fantasia Asia'. Entrants will compete over 9 categories and 3 special awards, featuring Hand Painted, Special Effects, Mask, Tribal, and World of Fluorescent categories plus a new interpretation of our own culture in the Maori Myths & Legends section. There will also be a spot prize for the best dressed audience member in Fantasia Asia theme.  

New Zealand has a reputation as leaders in the body art, make-up and special effects industry for both local and international film and television networks. The New Zealand Body Art Awards encourages interest in the art form helping to ensure the success of special effects make-up artists in New Zealand and overseas.

NZ Body Art Awards judge and five time Oscar award winner, Richard Taylor of Weta Workshop, last year said "the talent just continues to get better every year."

NZ Body Art Awards

Saturday 25 July 2009
Bruce Mason Centre, The Promenade
Takapuna, North Shore City
7.30pm (Show duration: 2 hours 45 mins)