Video artist Gary Hill once responded to the question of how his work should be displayed when CRTs became obsolete with the suggestion that his video should be projected on his viewers’ bodies from inside their skin.
When Hill was participating in the TechArcheology workshops a decade ago, this suggestion sounded flippant (and was perhaps meant to be). But now mainstream science has caught up with this nutty vision, and it looks like the porn industry won’t be far behind.
So what happens when your LED tattoo goes obsolete? Microsoft customers had better be diligent about downloading the latest “patches,” or they’ll end up sporting the Blue Skin of Death.
There has been a lot of controversy in the tattoo world about this process. I know some find it to be really innovative and interesting, but on the other hand I know I talked to my tattoo artist and she isn't a huge fan. There are certain traditions embedded (no pun intended) in the tattoo culture that are taken away with the introduction of digitalizing the procedure. Personally, I think it is a different class all together, and does not transcend traditions entirely. I think it has a place as an adjacent process. In the same way that prison tattoo's are different than the culture of Sumerians. Even though I am pretty interested in digital culture, I don't know how I would feel about getting my skin "digitalized".
I saw an article about this on another site. I think it's a little creepy and the video included in the article affirms that!
I think It might be interesting to use this technology to enhance the meaning of a tattoo, maybe even increase capitols?
Yah, i don’t know how much i like the idea of embedding lights into my skin. However I have been looking into black light tattoo ink and it seems pretty interesting. And would it take away the meaning of a tattoo for a person if they could just download a new image to themselves when ever they wanted? I myself have quite a few tattoos and i love telling the story or meaing behind each one. some mean alot to me, others not so much, but i don’t regret getting them. i think this is for the people who want to be fashionable at the moment.
I'm not sure how I feel about this…In one respect, the digitalization of the body is something that does not bother me. Self imposed evolution: adaptation for our current environment. Control of what's displayed is what brings it down a notch from traditional ink for me. It took me years to get a solid design down: Something i'd proudly wear and display on my persons for life. Digital tattoos, if i understand the method correctly, remove the permanence. They can be shut off or changed. What was once a permanent symbol is now fleeting. Granted, it would be good for the idiots who regretfully get their girlfriend's names tattooed on themselves.
I'm not sure how I feel about this…In one respect, the digitalization of the body is something that does not bother me. Self imposed evolution: adaptation for our current environment. Control of what's displayed is what brings it down a notch from traditional ink for me. It took me years to get a solid design down: Something i'd proudly wear and display on my persons for life. Digital tattoos, if i understand the method correctly, remove the permanence. They can be shut off or changed. What was once a permanent symbol is now fleeting. Granted, it would be good for the idiots who regretfully get their girlfriend's names tattooed on themselves.
I think this technology would be better used else where. In a way that is useful, not for aesthetics. Let the tattoo artist keep doing it the way it's being done now.
I would say that we may be too quick to judge this as a replacement to tattoos rather than a simple alternative. Just because a process changes doesn’t mean tradition needs to go away. Nowadays people typically use a tattoo machine to get a tattoo done, but it is still possible to have a hand needled tattoo done. Despite there being an easier and more efficient method, there was too much meaning in the process involved for it to disappear. Innovation does not have to directly correspond with eradication.
I'm a little on the fence about this new technology. The artist in me flailing with joy at the artistic opportunities morphing tattoos may bring, but the rationalist in me says that this technology should be used for more practical (perhaps medical) purposes first.