From May 17 to September 28, 2025, the Centre de la Vieille Charité in Marseille will host Tatouage. Histoires de la Méditerranée, an expansive exhibition dedicated to the practice of tattooing across Mediterranean cultures. This exhibition will trace tattooing’s evolution from its ancient roots to its modern interpretations, providing a unique, interdisciplinary approach to the subject.
Organized by the Museums of Marseille, the exhibition begins by exploring the earliest traces of tattoos found in Egypt, Syria, and the Cyclades. It then follows the practice through Greek and Roman history, examining the various roles that tattoos have played—whether medical, religious, political, or aesthetic. Over the centuries, tattooing has served as a visual language representing identity, belonging, and even resistance.
The exhibition’s trajectory ultimately leads to contemporary tattoo art, with a special focus on Marseille, where tattooing has become a prominent form of self-expression and urban identity. The exhibit integrates global art history with a multidisciplinary approach, drawing from archaeology, ethnology, and anthropology. It spans a diverse range of Mediterranean cultures, from Italy to Algeria, the Balkans to Iran, and Spain to Cyprus, while also addressing issues such as gender studies and postcolonial research.
Visitors will encounter an impressive array of artworks, including paintings, sculptures, photographs, and videos, alongside everyday objects and archaeological finds that offer both historical and contemporary perspectives. This comprehensive display highlights tattooing’s cultural and historical significance, allowing visitors to gain a deeper understanding of its multifaceted role in the Mediterranean region.
A key highlight of the exhibition is its focus on Mediterranean artists who have incorporated tattoo motifs into their works, contributing to avant-garde movements and feminist and decolonial discourse. This segment of the exhibition builds on the 2023 exhibition Baya. Une héroïne algérienne de l’art moderne, showcasing unpublished works by contemporary artists including Yohanne Lamoulère, Alireza Shojaian, Anne van der Stegen, Maya Benchikh el Fegoun dite El Meya, Samta Benyahia, Gaëlle Matata, Lalla Essaydi, Nil Yalter, and Shirin Neshat.
Among the highlights will be two drawings by Ahmed Cherkaoui from 1967, recently acquired by the city of Marseille in 2024, which will be displayed for the first time. This exhibition offers a dynamic and thought-provoking look at the long history of tattooing in the Mediterranean, emphasizing its artistic, cultural, and social dimensions across time.
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