I created a series of portraits that illustrate tattooed people, whose bodies have been morphed / transformed into story books, telling us their individual life stories.
We are not talking about some randomly chosen common tattoos like the infamous “sailor” or “I heart mum”, but tattoos that allow us to intimately glimpse into their souls, identities, character and attitude towards life. Germany even though being traditionally characterized as uptight, conservative, with a love for following “law & order” is witnessing the birth of a new generation of kids who are fed up with these clichés which best described their grandparents.
Somebody who tattoos their necks sends a strong signal to the society he is living in. “Fuck off”
I don’t want to work in a bank and I don’t want to live a conventional life. Their tattoos often have deeply emotional significance to them as they told me while shooting. The body is converted into a piece of art and in that sense illustrates their desire to be different, their cry for individuality in a society of sheep. It is still a sign of rebellion against a hegemonic society with its dominant ideologies – kind of brave as it visually signifies that you don’t want to belong to the rest – that youre anti-identifying. They are eternal pictures that treasure memories forever – images and stories that they don’t won’t to forget and proud to show off.
I deliberately let them choose their own background with the chalk board to highlight their individual tattoo stories/characters. Hence the observer not only observes but explores. It allows diving into their life stories and their narrative for a brief moment. I also strongly believe that no other medium provides such a strong and intimate closure as the tattoo to the tattooed person. Tatoos as the lightbringer for a more liberal and tolerable German future.
CULT-GEIST: Spirit of Individuality
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