Somerset House will host new works by 70 of the world's best tattoo artists in a set of skin showstoppers this summer

Click on the picture to launch the gallery

Butterflies, blossoms, skulls, crosses and death-denoting goddesses will appear as an inkfest of artists descend on Somerset House in a wash of tattoo trickery.

Seventy artists, from the near-ubiquitous Ed Hardy to Beyoncé, Dr Dre and Eminem favourite Mister Cartoon, have had their work assembled by curators Claudia De Sabe and Miki Vialetto, who have commissioned each dab hand to create a new work on the theme of time – resulting in silk paintings, bronze sculptures, paintings and more.

“Over the past 20 years there have been many exhibitions which have considered tattooing from historical, sociological and anthropological standpoints,” points out Vialetto.

“There have also been solo shows of tattoo artists who, in some cases, have had the privilege to exhibit their work in locations just as prestigious as Somerset House.

“But what is unprecedented about this exhibition is that it was organised to bring together 70 people who have created and represent the significant and momentous change in tattooing, in such an important and internationally famous arts and cultural venue.”

Others charting this changing culture include Filip Leu – the Swiss artist credit with inventing the “western Japanese” style of tattooing – and Horiyoshi III, a master of Japan’s ancient skin art traditions.

• Time: Tattoo Art Today is at Somerset House, London from July 3 – October 5 2014. Admission free.

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Pics: Rose Hardy, Alex Binnie, Claudia De Sabe, Ed Hardy, Filip Leu, Kurt Wiscombe, Morg, Paul Booth, Mr Cartoon, Theo Mindell, Somerset House.

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