In the art of Jean-Luc Moerman, tattoos are the great equalizer. The one constant across the Belgian artist’s diverse body of work is networks of interconnected, swirly shapes, often rendered in black on white. In his extensive Tattoo on Paper series, Moerman decorates famous portraits — Renaissance-era religious paintings, Rolling Stone covers photos, 1940s pinups — with these designs, tattooing the skin of subjects that range from Jesus to Kate Moss. These ink tattoos suggest a strange unity across centuries and art forms, and force us to examine timeless masterpieces anew. A few of our favorite works by Moerman are after the jump; visit his website to see a whole lot more.
Image credit: Jean-Luc Moerman
Image credit: Jean-Luc Moerman
Image credit: Jean-Luc Moerman
Image credit: Jean-Luc Moerman
Image credit: Jean-Luc Moerman
Image credit: Jean-Luc Moerman
Image credit: Jean-Luc Moerman
Image credit: Jean-Luc Moerman
Image credit: Jean-Luc Moerman
Image credit: Jean-Luc Moerman