Tattoo artist

A tattoo artist is a person who brings tattoos permanent means of an appropriate instrument, usually an electric tattoo machine, made with ink or other coloring materials in the skin.

Training and Berufsrechtliches

A legal regulated training is not provided in Germany. Usually tattoo artists will learn the necessary skills from experienced colleagues or self-taught.

The work of the tattoo artist is basically a commercial crafts or commercial activity. In 2007 Heiko Gantenberg got recognized from Marl before the Social Court Gelsenkirchen the status of a visual artist as freelancer in order to be included in the Künstlersozialkasse. Following the opinions of an art historian and the University of Munich for the first time a German court has recognized a tattoo artist as an artist; However, the Court expressly stated that it was an individual decision.

Tax Aspects

When making a tattoo is tax to another service, because according to the substance of the services not - has been transferred control to an object - such as in a delivery. When a tattoo ornaments or pictures are attached by piercing the human skin, the transfer of the dyes is sales tax law can not be seen as a supply of goods, since the dye is only accessory to the agreed services tattoo. It is therefore taxable and will be taxed at the standard rate ( § 12 para 1 UStG). The performance is not subject according to § 12 paragraph 2 sentence 1 No. 1 in conjunction UStG. No. 53, A, of the Annex to the UStG the reduced rate ( § 12 para 2 UStG). This tax credit is provided for shipments of works of art.

The tattoo parlor

The tattoo artist usually works in a shop called " Tattoo Shop " or " tattoo parlor ". Properly equipped tattoo studios use containers for objects that have come into contact with blood or body fluids, and an autoclave for sterilizing the equipment, provided that they do not work with disposables. Proper hygiene requires that the tattoo artist in all operations, the use of disposable gloves, special care is especially appropriate where there can be cross contamination can occur. In the Netherlands, Switzerland and Austria are subject to tattoo parlors stringent conditions and controls to improve the general health safety in this area. Meanwhile, there interventions, sterilization procedures, cleaning and disinfection are to be documented in writing. In Austria, the annual provision of a safety proof by an accredited institution is required by law since 2003.

Well-known tattoo artist

( a selection of tattoo artists / Tätowiereinnen, which have a certain contemporary or historical relevance; non-exhaustive )

Special techniques of different cultures

Tattoo by hand - Mali

Tattooing with a Tätowierkamm - Samoa

Tamati Waka Nene, 1870

Hlwong Pi Pant tattooing a Yant in Ang Tong Province.