One of the highlights at every New York Art Book Fair — Printed Matter’s annual weekend-long literary bash at MoMA PS1 — is the 8-Ball Zine Zone. Organized by 8-Ball Zines, the area includes a zine drop-off table open to submissions from all, and last year hosted both a custom airbrush t-shirt and stick-and-poke tattoo artist. This year, Gagosian Gallery is getting super legit on the tattoo front: the gallery will stage FLASH FLASH FLASH, an exhibition-cum-tattoo parlor featuring original artist-made designs.
Here’s how it works: six artists — including Genesis Breyer P-Orridge, Kim Gordon, Devendra Banhart, Turner Prize winner Douglas Gordon, Max Hooper Schneider, and Richard Wright — have created original flash art. (For those who don’t speak tattoo, a “flash” is a piece of paper with illustrations of available tattoos — most commonly by a single artist, or pertaining to some kind of theme.) Designs from each flash will be inked by Fernando Lions and Gillian Goldstein from Brooklyn favorite Flyrite Tattoo, who will be on-site for the duration of the fair. “Tattoos will be hand-numbered on the bodies of the purchasers, and once six people have a tattoo, the design will be retired forever,” according to Printed Matter.
If you’re a little apprehensive about going under the needle (or just not quick enough — there’s only 36 one-hour appointment slots available), the series of flashes will also be produced as prints, each in editions of six. Additionally, artist Brian Roettinger has designed a limited-edition book about the project.
Gagosian has posted a preview of what each guest artist has designed for their flash. Genesis’ is a favorite — a tough as nails barking dog; Gordon’s is a neatly illustrated chair. Both artists recently appeared in campaigns for Marc Jacobs, who as we all know has some fully excellent tattoos himself. Who knows? You could be in the booth next to the designer come September 16.
Printed Matter’s New York Art Book Fair runs between September 15 and 18 at MoMA PS1. See you there!
Credits
Text Emily Manning
Getty Images for New York EDITION