To celebrate the release of Forever: The New Tattoo, Gestalten will be hosting an evening of talks by renowned tattoo artists Alex Binnie and Duncan X, as well as by heavily tattooed art historian Matt Lodder, author of the book’s preface and a tattooing session by Rafel Delalande.

The suggestion that “tattoos are not just for sailors any more” is a familiar one. Tattooing, we've been told again and again recently, is coming of age—finally coming out of the murky shadows of the deviant underworld to leave its mark on the most well-heeled. It might be surprising to learn, then, that the popular media has been reporting the arrival of tattooing in high society for nearly one hundred years.

In a brief talk, Matt will be presenting a skeptical look at media perceptions of tattooing in recent decades, and present an alternative way of looking at, and thinking about tattoos: as art objects in their own right.

Moderated by Matt, Alex Binnie and Duncan X will then talk about the history of Western tattooing from the 1980s to the present day, with a focus on their own Into You shops in London and Brighton, the influences on tattoo practice from within and outside of the tattoo community, the shifting perceptions of tattooing, and how they both see their own particular practice and style in artistic terms.

On this special occasion, we will have a selection of limited edition woodcut prints by Alex Binnie along with the artist’s The Woodcut Portraits book for sale as well as special edition prints by Rafel Delalande.

 → Alex Binnie and Duncan X on Gestalten.tv

→ RSVP on Facebook

For further information or to request a preview of the available work, please contact the gallery at berlinspace@gestalten.com.