The Illustrated Man
2002-2009/2012
tattoos, photos
The Illustrated Man consists of 12 tattoos created on the artist’s own body; each individual tattoo being a component of each art project the artist initiated during the time he spent as a student. The title is taken from The Illustrated Man by Ray Bradbury (Doubleday & Company, 1951).
"The works of Oscar Guermouche are based upon and makes frequent use of text with his own body serving use as "book" or "exhibition space". In the spring of 2002, he started a project involving tattoos with the aim of leaving a fragment or component on his body of each art project that he initiates. The objectification of the own body has caused a change in relation to his environment; complete strangers feel entitled to comment on, point at and sometimes touch his body to read the words that have been tattooed thereon."
Magnus Bärtås (editor), Texst, Konstfack, 2004
courtesy of Galleri Anna Thulin
exhibited:
Art Copenhagen, Denmark, 2012 (detail)
Karlskrona Konsthall, Sweden, 2012 (detail)
Galleri Anna Thulin, Sweden, 2012 (detail)
Kalmar Konstmuseum, Sweden, 2010-2011 (previous version, detail)
NCCA/Kaliningrad State Art Gallery, Russia, 2009 (previous version)
Virserums Konsthall, Sweden, 2009-2012 (previous version, detail)
Konstfack, Sweden, 2009 (previous version)
published:
Il Corpo Solitario, Rubbettino Editore, Italy, 2012 (detail)
Geist, Sweden, 2006 (previous version, detail)
Texst, Konstfack, Sweden, 2004 (previous version, detail)
tattoo: Mikael Schelén, Robert Dourén, Danni Gustafsson
photo: Aida Chehrehgosha (with Christian Haag)
retouch: Johan Rosenberg
The Illustrated Man: Och ingen vet hurudan jag är (2002)
The Illustrated Man: Ida och Oscar (2002)
The Illustrated Man: Trompe l'œil (2002)
The Illustrated Man: Namna (2003)
The Illustrated Man: 50 (2003)
The Illustrated Man: Så här går man (2003)
The Illustrated Man: Behaviorism (2003-2004)
The Illustrated Man: Din hund är sjuk (2005)
The Illustrated Man: Signum 1977-2007 (2008)
The Illustrated Man: Sent Items (2006, 2009)
The Illustrated Man: Vi vill åka till Moskva (2008-2009)
The Illustrated Man