Heavy Duty

Sheathing oneself in adornments is a practice as old as time. But when sported by a new generation, the hard-shell decoration of the flesh and bone creates new life and new meaning in the art of decorating oneself.

- Vanessa Grace Ng

A certain eye-catching appeal comes from the glimmer of metal flush against one's flesh. A slight glint of a stranger's earrings might draw a second glance, while the high-shine of one's smile -illuminated by inlaid gems and metals on the teeth - could arise an illusion of a bright personality. Either way, the ornamentation of one's face, body, or even bone can be considered an attention-grabbing act of beautification. These days, it is not uncommon to see a friend, or a friend of a friend, or at the very least, a passer-by in town, engaged in adorning oneself.