A Body to Live In Review: Tender Portrait of a Trailblazing Queer Artist

Musafar was a leading figure in the “Modern Primitives” movement, a subculture known for pushing the boundaries of body modification through extreme piercing and tattooing. This practice often blended spiritual exploration with altered states of consciousness and fostered a uniquely queer community. Once unfairly labeled as self-harm or exploitative, this art form is now increasingly recognized as “outsider art,” beautifully highlighted in the film A Body to Live In by filmmaker Angelo Madsen Minax. Despite showcasing intense body modifications, the film is surprisingly easy to watch because it emphasizes the deliberate and meaningful nature of Musafar’s work.








