Thanks to museums and the internet, beautiful pieces of art are preserved for an eternity, to be enjoyed by future generations. But what about the art on our bodies that we pay so much for, and that artists put so much of their time and effort into? Shouldn't that art also be preserved, rather than rot away after we die? A macabre and slightly disturbing thought, for sure, but one tattoo artist has indeed made it his mission to preserve the tattoos of the dead.
Peter van der Helm runs a parlor in Amsterdam called Walls and Skin, and he's become the very first tattoo artist to offer up the unique service to his clients. For a few hundred euros, customers can leave their inked skin to van der Helm, a debt that will be collected once they pass away. A Dutch pathologist will then remove the tattoo(s), freeze or soak them in formaldehyde, and then send them off to a laboratory, wherein a 12-week procedure essentially turns the tattooed flap of skin into a rubbery display piece.
Van der Helm says that over 30 of his regular customers have already signed up for the post-death procedure, including a man who had his mother's portrait inked on his back, after she died. "Everyone spends their lives in search of immortality and this is a simple way to get a piece of it," says the creative shop owner.
Check out the news report below, and then let us know what you make of this by dropping a comment underneath. Sick? Cool? We'd love to hear your thoughts!