T@T{01} Tätoveering - kaasaegne kunstiteos?

Group Exhibtion

Ankru 8, Põhjala Tehas, Tallinn, Estonia

2024

"Funk Peeglitega" 79 x 97 cm

"Poest" - Tufted sculpture in 4 different parts

The exhibition explored the influence of tattoo artists on the contemporary art world.

When human skin becomes a canvas, art takes on its most intimate form. For a work to come into being, trust must exist between the artist and the canvas. But how is that trust created? There seems to be no definitive formula, as there is no universal artist—or universal canvas.

Nevertheless, tattooing has become a significant part of contemporary art, shaping both our society and the visual character of our cities for many years.

The exhibition featured artists who use tattooing as a medium: Lee Stewart, Priit Salusoo, Ulrike Brett Uukkivi, Kirke Tinno, Krete Erlenhein, SAAR (Dmitri Volairev and Ave-Mari Püve), Moona Saul, and Tauno Ostra.

Rather than focusing on tattoos themselves, the exhibition took a step back and considered the artists’ broader creative practices from a greater distance. The works on display encompassed contemporary drawing, painting, installation, sculpture, and even textile art.

T@T{01} celebrated the boundless potential and creativity of artistic expression across a wide range of media. Visitors were invited to challenge their preconceptions, embrace diversity, and reflect on the question: what makes a tattoo a work of contemporary art?