The skin becomes a canvas, tattoos transform into artworks more than ever, and the tattoo artist himself becomes a sought-after figure. One of the centers of this avant-garde: Berlin. Tattoos with artistic ambition that aim to counter the monotony of typical tattoo designs – this is what people like Valentin Hirsch are about. The 34-year-old studied art in Vienna. His etchings and charcoal drawings have been displayed in galleries in Germany and Austria. Three years ago, he began tattooing, primarily creating abstract animal figures that he combines with geometric shapes. The demand for his work is so high that he regularly tattoos not only in Berlin but also in London, Paris, and New York.