| Tätowierkunst e.V. | |
| Type: | Nonprofit organization |
| Founded Date: | 2000 Hanover, Germany |
| Location: | Münster, |
| Key People: |
2nd Chairman |
| Area Served: | Germany |
| Focus: | Tattoo-Art, |
| Method: | Artivism, social center, research, innovation |
| Num Members: | >500 (2022) |
| Homepage: | taetowierkunst.org/ |
The Tätowierkunst e.V. (abbreviated as TK) is an association of German tattoo artists registered as a formal organization in 2000.[1] The organization promotes recognition of tattooing as a form of fine art and cultural heritage. It hosts educational events and art exhibits, and it encourages scientific research related to tattooing. It has also advocated for tattoo artists to be eligible for the German Artists' Social Security Fund.
In 1977, Manfred Kohrs founded the first German tattoo artists' association, the National Tattoo Club Germany, "to have tattooing recognized as a form of visual art", although it was not a registered association. Among the founding members were Horst Streckenbach and Theodor Vetter. This association became the Expo 2000, through entry in the Hanover association register, the KUNSTverein 2000 e.V., which was renamed Tätowierkunst e.V. at a special association meeting on December 2, 2018 and subsequently attained charitable status.
After 18 years, Kohrs handed over the presidency to Heiko Gantenberg, who continued to promote the idea of establishing tattooing as a form of visual art and recognizing it as an intangible cultural heritage. With the election of chairwoman Tanina Palazzolo, the association's headquarters moved to Münster in June 2021. Members include tattoo artists, art historians, lawyers, and scientists.[2]
The TK is "part of the Council of European Tattoo Associations (CETA), a kind of round table for the industry at European level."″The Tätowierkunst e. V. is a German association for the promotion of art and culture in the field of tattoo art. It is the first and currently the only association dedicated to this art form and its establishment as a manifestation of the visual arts in the German-speaking world; it thus takes a pioneering role″.[3]
The concept of the TK includes the establishment of tattooing as a manifestation of fine art and recognition as an intangible cultural heritage. The purpose of the statute is realized in particular by holding events and exhibitions on German art of tattooing and promoting scientific research in the field of tattooing, lectures and seminars are also offered.
Furthermore, the association is involved in relation to the possibility of tattooing being recognized as an art form in the commercial and tax sense. The possibility of including tattoo artists in the German Artists' Social Security Fund (Künstlersozialkasse) is also being promoted by TK.[4] [5] The TK is supported by several members of the Bundestag, such as Roderich Kiesewetter, Saskia Ludwig, and Helge Lindh.[6]