Fakir Musafar

Fakir Musafar (born Roland Loomis, August 10, 1930 – August 1, 2018) was an American performance artist, writer, and educator in the field of Body Modification. He is recognized as the father of the modern Primitive Movement, a subculture that originated in the 1970s in the United States, which is focused on radical body modifications.

Early Life

Roland Loomis was born on August 10, 1930, in Aberdeen, South Dakota. From a young age, he was fascinated by body modification practices he saw in National Geographic magazines. This early interest led him to experiment with body modification techniques on himself, including piercing, tattooing, and scarification.

Career

In the 1960s, Loomis adopted the name Fakir Musafar, inspired by the Sufi term "fakir" which refers to a Muslim (or, loosely, a Hindu) religious ascetic who lives solely on alms. Musafar's work was primarily focused on body modification and the exploration of body play as a means of spiritual exploration and personal growth. He was known for his extreme performances, such as hanging by his skin from hooks, walking on fire, and body piercing.

Musafar was a prolific writer and educator, contributing to various publications and conducting workshops on body modification. He was instrumental in the founding of the Association of Professional Piercers and the Modern Primitives movement.

Legacy

Fakir Musafar's influence on the body modification community is significant. His work has inspired many individuals to explore their own bodies through modification and play. His teachings continue to be a guiding force in the body modification community.

Death

Fakir Musafar died on August 1, 2018, just days before his 88th birthday. His death was a significant loss to the body modification community.

See Also

• Body Modification
• Modern Primitives
• Association of Professional Piercers