Sind Tattoos Kunst?
A group exhibition at the Opelvillen in Rüsselsheim, Germany, titled "Unter die Haut. Tattoos im Blick," explores tattooing as an art form, centering on the work of tattoo artist and photographer Herbert Hoffmann. The show traces the evolution of tattoos from post-war working-class culture to contemporary pop culture, featuring Hoffmann's photographs alongside works by contemporary artists David Schiesser, Michele Servadio, and Sarah Dubná, who bridge tattooing with drawing, painting, and printmaking. The exhibition is a partner project with "Mishpocha" at the Jewish Museum Frankfurt and includes shared photographic positions by Sandra Mann and Jan Zappner.
The exhibition matters because it challenges historical prejudices against tattoos—once dismissed by architect Adolf Loos as marks of criminals or degenerates—and examines how tattooing has become a widespread, accepted practice in Germany, with about 17% of the population now tattooed. By juxtaposing Hoffmann's documentary photography with contemporary artists who use tattoo techniques on canvas or treat tattooing as ephemeral art, the show raises fundamental questions about the medium of skin, the preservation of tattoos through photography, and the boundaries between craft, handwork, and fine art.