6 | The CNM Chronicle
FEATURE
March 11-17, 2014
Body Suspension: A Cultural Adaptation
By Rene Thompson Editor in Chief
Body Suspension is a practice that dates back thousands of years in cultures throughout the world in areas such as India, the Middle East, and North America. In India these practices had been performed as far back as 5,000 years ago, and according to skin-artists.com are still practiced today in Hindu religion, as well as in some Native American rituals. Suspension has been called a number of things by many cultures, such as the Oh-kee-pa (or Okipa) by the Mandan Native American tribe as depicted in the 1970 film “A Man Called Horse,” and is also part of the Sundance ritual performed by some of the Sioux Native American tribe. The Hindu festival rituals of Thaipusam and Chidi Mari in India use forms of suspension and
piercing, still celebrated every year, mostly by Savite Hindus, according to skin-artists.com. Suspension has also had a sort of cultural adaptation in the modern western world, and is now being performed by a growing sub-culture of piercing and body modification enthusiasts all over since the 1980s. Suspension is also used in different ways now, including performance art with shows such as those done by piercer, Steve Truitt of Ascension Body Modification at 3600 Central Ave SE, who has performed countless suspension shows, and who also got to work with Jane’s Addiction on their tours in 2011 and in 2013, where he had people hanging off hooks from the rafters at concert venues throughout the world, he said. Truitt said he has been piercing professionally since 1995 and is a member of the Association of Professional Piercers, and not only pierces and
suspends people, but also performs an array of other body modifications at his studio, where he has been perfecting his art with suspension since 2000. “I couldn’t even guess at how many people I’ve hung over the years. We have done hundreds of shows, and thousands of private suspensions, and been to many suspension related events all over the world,” he said. Truitt said that people get suspended for all sorts of different reasons, and that there is no one reason why people get themselves suspended; some do it for spiritual reasons, as a rite of passage, others just for the thrill of it or to test one’s limits. “It’s a personal thing for everyone who does it,” he said. According to skinartists.com suspension has two main ways of “rigging” people to sterile hooks, which are either dynamic or static. “Dynamic rigging uses ropes, or something
Suspension positions Chest A chest suspension, sometimes incorrectly referred to as an “O-Kee-Pa”, is a suspension in which hook(s) are placed in the chest. Typically two hooks are used for this type of suspension. This is named after the Okipa ceremony of the Mandan people.
Coma
A coma suspension is where hooks are placed in the chest, torso and legs, usually in two rows, so that the suspender is lying face up. The name of this position comes from the similar imagery in the movie Coma.
Knee
A knee suspension is a suspension in which the hooks are placed in both knees. There is no standard for hook placement on this suspension, as it depends almost solely on the anatomy of the suspender.
Suicide
A suicide suspension is a suspension in which hooks are placed in the upper back, so that the suspender is hanging upright. This type of suspension is named suicide due to its similarity in appearance to someone who has been hanged.
Steve Truitt poses with a suspended girl.
similar, and one long piece is used to connect the suspender to the apparatus. In static rigging, each hook is attached to the apparatus separately and is usually rigged to a tree, ceiling, or scaffolding, using pulleys or a winch.” Truitt said that modern suspension is very different from the suspension rituals other cultures have done for thousands of years. “Some (people) are into the cultural aspect, some are into performance or artistic statement,” he said. Truitt said that he no longer gets himself suspended unless it is for a big show or movie, and now mostly does shows with his girlfriend, Marlo Marquise, who is a model and professional performer of suspension. “I love suspending other people though, especially someone doing it for their first time. I enjoy doing something
PHOTO PROVIDED BY STEVE TRUITT
for people that helps them feel good about themselves,” Truitt said. When asked about how he reacts to people that are close-minded to extreme body modification, Truitt said that everyone is different and “to each their own,” in addition he said he would not waste time trying to explain something like suspension to someone who was very close-minded and against it in the first place. “I also wouldn’t waste my time dealing with people who discriminate against anyone because of their appearance or any other reason,” he said. Truitt said that he has been to many countries doing suspension shows, and that everyone has different protocols and ways they do things in various places, but overall suspension is pretty similar world-wide, he said. “I love traveling, so I feel very lucky to get to do
something I love and to travel around doing it,” Truitt said. Truitt said when he went back on tour with Jane’s Addiction in 2013 on the “Rockstar Uproar Tour” he suspended local people at shows wanting the experience throughout the country. “Working with them has been one of the most fun experiences of my life. Dave Navarro loves suspension and wanted this to happen, so we could work with suspension teams all over the world and bring this amazing art form to all kinds of people,” he said. For more information on suspension, go to ascensionsuspension. com, ascensionbodymod.com or bme.com.
Resurrection
A resurrection suspension is a suspension in which the suspended person is held up by hooks, usually in two rows on the stomach.
Crucifix
A crucifix suspension is where hooks are placed in the arms, so that the suspender appears to be hanging on a cross, with his or her arms held out to the side.
Superman
A superman suspension is where hooks are placed in the back and legs, usually in two rows. This type of suspension is named superman because of a similar appearance to Superman flying. Information provided by skin-artist.com Savite Hindu man suspends in a yearly Indian ritual.
PHOTO COURTESY OF NEWS.BME.COM