Motorcycle Flesh Suspension

In addition to being co-owner of Meatshop Tattoo in Copenhagen, Denmark (you’ve seen their amazing work featured many times on ModBlog), Mélanie Poudroux is a motorcycle builder. One of the people working with her at the time had a journalist friend who’d pop in from time to time, and got interested in mods and body play after talking to her, and later bumped into her at Third Eye Tattoo in Victoria while Timb was doing her microchip implant, and they began talking about her interest in suspension, which was the genesis of a lengthy article and unique photoshoot in Australia’s Two Wheels motorcycle culture magazine. The suspension was pierced by Timb Wilton of Third Eye, and the rig was built and welded by Mélanie.

I’m a little behind the times on this post, as the article is from the February 2009 issue, but hopefully that eliminates and possibility that Two Wheels will be bothered that I’m sharing this excerpt from the magazine with you here. Click the picture spread above to see just those shots at full size, or click the three two-page spreads below to zoom in to nice big pictures where you can actually read the text as well. Alternately (and this is probably a better option), click here to download a PDF version.

Bronze Age Ragnarok

Following up on some of the great work from Peter Madsen at Meatshop (meatshoptattoo.com) has done that Rob’s posted here in the past, I wanted to point out this gem recently added to his portfolio. It is based on the Ragnarok saga, so the two ships are Naglfar and Skibladner, and of course that’s Yggdrasil (the tree of life) in the centre, with the whole thing being done in a Bronze-age style (even though, as Peter points out, the myth is not from the Bronze age, but it’s what the client wanted). This is one of those tattoos that makes a person look like the university professor you wish you had, or otherwise hip-academic when they disrobe at the beach.

tat2

Raven Scratch

Meatshop Tattoo is quickly becoming one of the names to watch in terms of both abstract and dotwork tattoos.  You’ve seen Peter Madsen‘s works on ModBlog quite a bit over the past couple of weeks, and now he’s joined IAM, allowing us to get to know him a little better.

The last 12 years of my life have been all about creativity: big or small, simple and sophisticated, everything from painting and sculpting to building special-effects. The same creativity has sent me in many interesting ways, I used to run a Special Effects company, and resided in the United Kingdom and Sweden.

At some point in my creative rush, I realized that I was not doing anything in particular that had deep meaning for people. I began to wonder how I could put my creativity to some more rewarding use. One day it struck me: tattooing was simply the way.

In early 2010 I did my apprenticeship with an old friend of mine, Jesper Berthelsen, who now works primarily as an armourer and silversmith, but also has been a tattoo artist for many years. He taught me the basics of the ancient art form that is tattooing, and I had a good start before I was allowed to throw myself in the actual craft. Since then I have worked very hard every day to perfect my craftsmanship and I am very pleased to say that I do not regret my choice. Tattoing is live-giving, both for me and my customers.

About my work: Tattooing for me is an art that must be combined with man’s natural beauty. Trying to do “painting” on the body does not work for me – my desire is to create art that goes hand in hand with the skin and the body. For the same reason I have a fondness for ornamental designs, dotwork tattoo and scratch-work tattoo. My style is heavily inspired by Old Norse and Scandinavian art, Middle Eastern, geometry, black work and body dynamics.

Here’s one of his scratch-work pieces, a full raven sleeve.

Be sure to check out his BME Portfolio Gallery to see more of his work.