In his one-of-a-kind book, Bloodfaces, Jens Uwe Parkitny's lenses draw us up close to the women from tribal groups such as the Laytu, and his camera unveils not only the variety of delicate tattoo patterns among various Chin groups, but also, more importantly, the innate strength and courage of these women who sat in pain, enduring the needlework, as blood and tears ran down their faces.

The book, a limited edition, is the first of its kind to portrait of what is left in contemporary Myanmar (Burma) of an ancient tribal practice which is vanishing fast but was once wide spread among indigenous ethnics in Asia. Though facial tattoos are still practiced by the Naga tribes in North East India, very little is known about the fact that until recently the Chin in Rakhine and Southern Chin State tattooed the faces of their young girls and women.

ISBN 978-981-4193-38-2,
published by Flame of the Forest, Singapore
146 pages, 105 colour and b&w photos.

Bloodfaces cannot be ordered via Amazon or any other large book online retailer. The book is only available through Select Books, an independent Asian Book Specialist based in Singapore. To purchase a copy online, click here:

Books signed by author can also be purchased directly through this website for USD$49 (excluding shipping costs). All proceeds of signed books are donated to a children’s charity in Yangon.

To order directly from author, and for enquiries, please contact Jens directly through jens@bloodfaces.com