C4H2
What if tattoos could reflect our health?
During my four years of studies, I dove into the world of tattoo artistry. I realized that tattoos are like mirrors, reflecting our thoughts, experiences, and stories. Every person's body is a unique canvas, and a tattoo is a way to communicate visually. I named my project C4H2 after the tattoo ink's chemical compound. In C4H2, I added a single dot to each person's body, and these temporary tattoos lasted for three months.
Over time, each tattoo changed, based on the person's DNA. Even though no two tattoos were the same, they all started with a grid of dots, and these dots interacted to create distinct patterns. C4H2 was my final project for my first degree, and the first body it adorned tells the story of my artistic journey and the stories written on our skin.
The grid
The grid is the underlying structure that serves as the foundation for these distinctive tattoos. It's a matrix of dots that provides a starting point for the creative journey. As the tattoo artist, I work with this grid to initiate each design, but from that point, the tattoo takes on a life of its own. The grid, while consistent, serves as a canvas where the dots flow, connect, collide, and react to create endless variations, resulting in tattoos that are as diverse as the individuals who bear them.
The development
In this project, each tattoo begins with a single point on the individual's body. As the tattoo evolves, it does so in a way that's unique to that person. This means that no two tattoos are the same, and each person ends up with a truly one-of-a-kind tattoo, influenced by their specific physical characteristics and processes.
Early detection
These tattoos can detect health issues early on, with each disease triggering a distinct visual response in the tattoo. For example, if a particular health concern arises, the tattoo changes in a unique way. This feature transforms the tattoos into both art and potential health indicators, offering an early warning system through visual signals.
This groundbreaking aspect of the tattoos not only provides early disease detection but also opens up new horizons for proactive health monitoring. The tattoos become personal health companions, visually alerting individuals to potential health changes. With further research and development, this innovative fusion of art and medical awareness could potentially revolutionize how we engage with our well-being, offering a unique and personalized early warning system that goes beyond traditional health check-ups.
Alzheimer's
In the context of Alzheimer's, the tattoo undergoes a unique process. It initially starts to develop, but for a duration of six months, it experiences a regression, ultimately returning to its original state at the starting dot. This distinctive response symbolizes the progressive nature of Alzheimer's disease, offering a visual representation of the challenges faced by those affected and emphasizing the importance of raising awareness about the condition.
Cancer (all types)
For various types of cancerous tumors, the initial point within the tattoo is colored orange. This orange hue progressively expands from the tattoo's periphery until it entirely envelops the entire design.
Parkinson's
In the case of Parkinson's, the tattoo experiences ongoing vibrations and distortions throughout its development.
Colitis
In the context of colitis, the initial point duplicates itself from right to left, and this duplication pattern continues throughout the entire development of the tattoo.
The book
Every individual who undergoes the process receives the company's index, providing a self-diagnosis along with explanations about the company and its technology. The book consists of 244 pages, a part of my project, designed with meticulous detail. It's structured into three main chapters, guiding the reader through a visual and contemplative journey.
The book is constructed from three distinct skins that collectively form the grid, offering different perspectives. When you run your hand over the cover, you'll notice a unique tactile experience; it's not perfectly smooth. Each skin responds differently to our touch, highlighting imperfection within the concept of perfection. Just as each point in the grid possesses its own distinct skin, mirroring the way each person receives a different and exclusive configuration of a tattoo.
The posters
The posters feature an individual at their core, focusing on the texture of their skin. The visual representation of the skin varies from person to person, symbolizing the diverse ways skin absorbs and accepts tattoos in different locations and at various ages. Despite the medical nature of the procedure, the aim was to emphasize a human element, underscoring the distinctiveness of each person within this process.
The ink
The ink is available in two different container sizes. The first contains 30 ml and is designed for multiple tattoos, with the bottle's design featuring the starting point at its center. The second configuration for the ink is a capsule, specifically designed to accommodate a single tattoo.
The invitation
Upon receiving an invitation, my intention was to create something that would only be revealed upon contact with the skin. The invitation takes the form of a temporary water tattoo, which remains invisible until it is applied to the skin.
The location
The location at Yehuda Halevi 9 in Tel Aviv was chosen with a specific vision in mind. When seeking a venue for the launch event, I aimed for a place that would resonate with the positive medical aspects and the historical development akin to the art of tattoos and societal changes. Yehuda Halevi 9, formerly Freud's maternity home established in 1924, was a prime choice. The building, designed in an eclectic style, witnessed the birth of over 35,000 babies over three decades. Additionally, it played a pivotal role in history as a hospital for the wounded during the War of Liberation and later served as a Hatzel headquarters during Menachem Begin's era. Today, the building is home to the Bank Leumi's Board of Directors.
For the launch event, I decided to occupy the first floor and create a pop-up exhibition showcasing the company, its technology, values, and providing a space for guests to peruse the book. Drawing inspiration from the concept of tattoos as another layer on the skin, I chose to envelop the venue with an additional layer of fabric
This fabric varies in tightness, revealing glimpses of the original building underneath or flowing freely, much like the diversity found in different body and skin types. To create reading spaces, I delineated areas using carpets and lighting from above and below. The fabric, resembling the human body with its curves and versatility, showcases the company's graphic elements. This fabric, like the human body, responds to movement, offering different perspectives on the graphics as the body or fabric shifts.
Externally, I draped the building with dark fabric, setting it apart in the Tel Aviv cityscape. The upper part of the building is tightly bound while the lower part is left to hang loosely, resulting in varying views throughout the day, influenced by time and weather. This external representation mirrors the company's tattoo concept, always commencing from the same clear starting point—the dot—and evolving with an element of surprise, much like our own journeys through life.
Thank you.
