Flesh Museum

Preserving tattoos after a person's death is a unique challenge, as the ink and pigments used in tattoos are not meant to last forever. However, there are ways to preserve tattoos for future generations to see and appreciate.

One of the most common methods of preserving tattoos is through embalming, which involves injecting a solution of chemicals into the body to slow down the decomposition process. This method is often used in funeral homes to preserve the body for viewing and burial. While embalming can help to preserve the appearance of tattoos, it is not a permanent solution and the tattoos may eventually fade or deteriorate over time.

Another method of preserving tattoos is through taxidermy, where the skin is removed from the body, treated, and then mounted on a form to display the tattoos. This method is often used in museums and is a more permanent solution to preserving tattoos. However, it is a complex and controversial process, and is not widely used due to ethical and cultural concerns.

In Japan, the preservation of traditional tattoos, known as "Irezumi", has been a significant part of their cultural heritage for centuries. Many museums and cultural institutions have a collection of tattoos that have been preserved through a process called "skin preservation". In this process, the skin is treated and stretched to create a canvas-like material that can be displayed and appreciated for generations to come.

One example of this is the Horiyoshi III Museum in Yokohama, Japan, which has a collection of traditional Japanese tattoos that have been preserved through skin preservation. Another example is the Tattoo Museum in Asakusa, Japan, which houses a collection of tattoos that were once worn by Yakuza (Japanese organized crime) members. These tattoos are a fascinating glimpse into the cultural history of Japan and the role of tattoos in their society.

In conclusion, preserving tattoos after a person's death is a unique challenge, but it is possible through various methods, including embalming, taxidermy, and skin preservation. By preserving tattoos, we are able to preserve a part of our cultural heritage and ensure that these works of art can be appreciated by future generations.

However it doesn't stop there as tattooing has become a larger and larger cultural phenomena more modern companies are coming to light to preserve anyone's tattoos for their families. Rather than a urn or tombstone they'd have the artwork their family member wanted permanently with them.

This is something even us at Legend Ink have been looking into in hopes of preserving out artwork in museums like artists through out history have done on canvas. Still a ways off , but we look forward to these new technologies as they become available to us. And of course as we can create more tattoos with each of you!