More than just Photography: It is a cultural record, the first of its kind.
Facial Tattoo Marks of the Highland Chin
The Southern Chin Mountains are home of different Chin groups that practised facial tattooing until about 30 years ago. The facial patterns of the Mün Chin (N’Men, Muun) stand out with their half-moon shapes on cheeks, vertical lines on nose and chin, dots around and above the mouth as well as a fountain-like y-shaped symbol on the forehead. All other groups, such as the M’Khan, Yindu, Hmoye, N’Gha and Matu Chin use predominantly dots or lines or a combination of both to create dense, matrix-like-patterns. What you see here is the first documentation on record of all the different tattoo patterns that distinguish the different Chin groups in the Highlands. The systematic classification appeared first in my book “Marked for Life - Myanmar’s Chin Women and their Facial Tattoos” (Kerber, 2017), however, the first portraits of these amazing women I already published in 2007: “Blood Faces - Through The Lense: Chin Women of Myanmar” (Flame of the Forest, 2007, Singapore).
Cheerot-smoking Mün Chin, Southern Chin State, Myanmar (Burma), 2005
Mün Chin, Facial Tattoo Pattern Front View, Southern Chin State, Myanmar (Burma), Copyright 2016 © Jens Uwe Parkitny. All rights reserved.
Profile view of face-tattooed Mün Chin, Southern Chin State, Myanmar (Burma), 2005
Mün Chin, Facial Tattoo Pattern Profile View, Southern Chin State, Myanmar (Burma), Copyright 2016 © Jens Uwe Parkitny. All rights reserved.
Pipe-Smoking Mün Chin, Southern Chin State, Myanmar (Burma), 2005
Mün Chin teacher, Southern Chin State, Myanmar (Burma), 2005
Neck-tattooed Mün Chin, Southern Chin State, Myanmar (Burma), 2005
Braceletts wearing Mün Chin, Southern Chin State, Myanmar (Burma), 2005
N'Gha Chin with traditional headdress and necklaces, Southern Chin State, Myanmar (Burma), 2005
M' Khan Chin, Facial Tattoo Pattern Front View, Southern Chin State, Myanmar (Burma), Copyright 2016 © Jens Uwe Parkitny. All rights reserved.
M'Khan Chin, Southern Chin State, Myanmar (Burma), 2005
M'Khan Chin, Facial Tattoo Pattern Profile View, Southern Chin State, Myanmar (Burma), Copyright 2016 © Jens Uwe Parkitny. All rights reserved.
M'Khan Chin with infant, Southern Chin State, Myanmar (Burma), 2002
Yindu Hmoye Chin, Facial Tattoo Pattern Profile View, Southern Chin State, Myanmar (Burma), Copyright 2016 © Jens Uwe Parkitny. All rights reserved.
Hmoye Chin Women with traditional shawl, Southern Chin State, Myanmar (Burma), 2005
Ubtu Chin, Facial Tattoo Pattern Profile View, Southern Chin State, Myanmar (Burma), Copyright 2016 © Jens Uwe Parkitny. All rights reserved.
Ubtu Chin, Southern Chin State, Myanmar (Burma), 2003
Matu Chin, Facial Tattoo Pattern Profile View, Southern Chin State, Myanmar (Burma), Copyright 2016 © Jens Uwe Parkitny. All rights reserved.
Matu Chin, Southern Chin State, Myanmar (Burma), 2005
Yindu Dai Chin, Facial Tattoo Pattern Front View, Southern Chin State, Myanmar (Burma), Copyright 2016 © Jens Uwe Parkitny. All rights reserved.
Yindu Dai Chin with bronze bracelets, Southern Chin State, Myanmar (Burma), 2005
Facial Tattoo Marks of the Lemro River Chin
The Lemro River in Western Burma meanders through parts of Rakhine and Chin State and its banks are home of various Chin groups that practised facial tattooing until 20 years ago. The facial patterns of those groups are far more complex, intricate and beautiful in their symmetry, than the ones of the Highland Chins. What you see here is the first documentation on record of all the different tattoo patterns that distinguish the different Chin groups living at the Lemro River in Rakhine State. The systematic classification appeared first in my book “Marked for Life - Myanmar’s Chin Women and their Facial Tattoos” (Kerber, 2017), however, the first portraits of these amazing women I already published in 2007: “Blood Faces - Through The Lense: Chin Women of Myanmar” (Flame of the Forest, 2007, Singapore).
Laytu Chin with closed eyes, Rakhine State, Burma, (Myanmar), 2005
Laytu Chin, Facial Tattoo Pattern Front View, Rakhine State, Myanmar (Burma), Copyright 2016 © Jens Uwe Parkitny. All rights reserved.
Laytu Chin, Facial Tattoo Pattern Profile View, Rakhine State, Myanmar (Burma), Copyright 2016 © Jens Uwe Parkitny. All rights reserved.
Laytu Chin, Rakhine State, Burma, (Myanmar), 2005
Sunghtu Chin, Facial Tattoo Pattern Profile View, Rakhine State, Myanmar (Burma), Copyright 2016 © Jens Uwe Parkitny. All rights reserved.
Sunghtu Chin with traditional silver ear plug, Rakhine State, Myanmar (Burma), 2005.
Sunghtu Chin with spinal tattoo, Rakhine State, Burma, (Myanmar), 2005
Sunghtu Chin Elder, Rakhine State, Myanmar (Burma), 2005.
Magan Chin, Facial Tattoo Pattern Profile View, Rakhine State, Myanmar (Burma), Copyright 2016 © Jens Uwe Parkitny. All rights reserved.
Magan Chin, Rakhine State, Myanmar (Burma), 2005
Sutu Chin, Facial Tattoo Pattern Profile View, Rakhine State, Myanmar (Burma), Copyright 2016 © Jens Uwe Parkitny. All rights reserved.
Sutu Chin, Rakhine State, Burma, (Myanmar), 2005
Laytu Chin Girl, Rakhine State, Burma, (Myanmar), 2005
Laytu Chin with finger rings, Rakhine State, Burma, (Myanmar), 2005
Pipe-smoking Laytu Chin in traditional attire, Rakhine State, Burma, (Myanmar), 2005
Laytu Chin in traditional attire, Rakhine State, Burma, (Myanmar), 2005
Laytu Chin elder with grandchild, Rakhine State, Burma, (Myanmar), 2005
Laytu Chin mother with child, Rakhine State, Burma, (Myanmar), 2005
Laytu Chin with traditional bamboo plate, Rakhine State, Burma, (Myanmar), 2005
Laytu Chin elder with pet monkey, Rakhine State, Burma, (Myanmar), 2005
Facial Tattoo Marks of the Plain Chin
A few Uptu Chin communities have settled in the plains of Magway Division, an administrative zone in Central Myanmar. The hallmark of the Ubtu Chin women (Uppu, Ubun) are completely tattooed faces without any pattern, except for a small band of pattern along the jaw line that serves to distinguish one group from another. What you see here is the first documentation on record of Ubtu tattoos. The systematic classification appeared first in my book “Marked for Life - Myanmar’s Chin Women and their Facial Tattoos” (Kerber, 2017), however, the first portraits of these amazing women I already published in 2007: “Blood Faces - Through The Lens: Chin Women of Myanmar” (Flame of the Forest, 2007, Singapore).
Ubtu Chin, Magway Division, Burma, Myanmar, 2014
Ubtu Chin, Facial Tattoo Pattern Profile View Group 1, Magway Division, Myanmar (Burma), Copyright 2016 © Jens Uwe Parkitny. All rights reserved.
Ubtu Chin, Magway Division, Burma, Myanmar, 2014
Ubtu Chin, Facial Tattoo Pattern Profile View Group 2, Magway Division, Myanmar (Burma), Copyright 2016 © Jens Uwe Parkitny. All rights reserved.
Ubtu Chin, Facial Tattoo Pattern Profile View Group 3, Magway Division, Myanmar (Burma), Copyright 2016 © Jens Uwe Parkitny. All rights reserved.
Ubtu Chin, Magway Division, Burma, Myanmar, 2014
The above showcases comprise of a small selection of the Chin women portraits and illustrations that I created over time.
Imagine how stunning one of these unique and iconic portraits would look on your wall back home?
You can order them as fine art prints in museum-quality and in a range of different sizes here.