Tattoo exhibition in Mestre traces history from antiquity to contemporary art
An extensive exhibition in Mestre delves into the evolution of tattooing from ancient eras to the present, drawing on research conducted by Fondazione Torino Musei at MAO – Museo d’Arte Orientale. It comprises five distinct sections: East, Rites of Passage, Italy and the Mediterranean, Outcasts and Outlaws, and From Underground to Mainstream. Visitors will encounter tattoos on mummies, 18th-century European interactions with Southeast Asian cultures, and 19th-century anthropologist Cesare Lombroso's perspectives on tattooed criminals. The showcase includes works from contemporary artists such as Tin-Tin, Filip Leu, and Horiyoshi III, as well as pieces by Wim Delvoye. Curated by Massimiliano Maxx Testa, 'Tattoo Off' features renowned tattooists like Alex De Pase and Marco Manzo.
Key facts
- Exhibition at Mestre explores tattooing from antiquity to today.
- Based on research by Fondazione Torino Musei at MAO – Museo d’Arte Orientale.
- Five sections: East, Rites of Passage, Italy and the Mediterranean, Outcasts and Outlaws, From Underground to Mainstream.
- Features tattoos on mummies and ancient practices.
- Word 'tattoo' originates from Polynesian.
- Cesare Lombroso linked tattoos to criminality in the 19th century.
- Contemporary tattoo artists include Tin-Tin, Filip Leu, Horiyoshi III, Nicolai Lilin, Claudia De Sabe.
- Artworks by Wim Delvoye, Santiago Sierra, Dr. Lakra, Valie Export, Mary Coble, Fabio Viale.
- Photographs by Catherine Opie, Tobias Zielony, Sergei Vasiliev, Plinio Martelli, Oliviero Toscani.
- 'Tattoo Off' curated by Massimiliano Maxx Testa features Alex De Pase, Marco Manzo, Moni Marino, Silvano Fiato, Volko Merschky & Simone Pfaff.
Entities
Artists
- Tin-Tin
- Filip Leu
- Horiyoshi III
- Nicolai Lilin
- Claudia De Sabe
- Wim Delvoye
- Santiago Sierra
- Dr. Lakra
- Valie Export
- Mary Coble
- Fabio Viale
- Catherine Opie
- Tobias Zielony
- Sergei Vasiliev
- Plinio Martelli
- Oliviero Toscani
- Massimiliano Maxx Testa
- Alex De Pase
- Marco Manzo
- Moni Marino
- Silvano Fiato
- Volko Merschky
- Simone Pfaff
- Cesare Lombroso
Institutions
- Fondazione Torino Musei
- MAO – Museo d’Arte Orientale
- Museo M9
- Venezia International Tattoo Convention
Locations
- Mestre
- Italy
- Torino
- Polynesian
- Southeast Asia
- Pacific Ocean
- Europe
- Mediterranean
- East
- Venice