Dirk Behlau - Inkarnation – Tattoo & Lifestyle - 2013

Impressive large-format photography book and tattoo culture, Inkarnation – Tattoo & Lifestyle, edited by German photographer Dirk Behlau, “The Pixeleye,” and published by Feierabend Unique Books / Zeixs, Cologne.

This is the attractive Black Edition, presented in a spectacular black leather-look cover with a large ornamental skull in relief designed by Hydro74, one of the most recognizable visual elements of this publication.

The work gathers approximately 302 pages and 320 photographs dedicated to international tattoo culture, combining tattoo art, contemporary photography, pin-up, artists, musicians, tattooed models, and rock & roll aesthetics. Its large format, about 19 × 32 cm, allows enjoying especially full-page and double-page photographs.

The volume was conceived as an authentic coffee-table book and also stands out for its distinctive Swiss open binding, designed to allow a better opening of the page block. This visible construction alongside the spine is intentional and part of the book’s original design.

Includes foreword by The Scary Guy, art direction by Marc Wnuck, design by Christian Schaarschmidt, and cover artwork by Hydro74. Its pages feature work by numerous international photographers and portraits of figures linked to the tattoo scene and the alternative lifestyle.

Copy information:

* Title: Inkarnation – Tattoo & Lifestyle
* Editor: Dirk Behlau
* Publisher: Feierabend Unique Books / Zeixs, Cologne
* Year indicated on this copy: 2013
* ISBN: 978-3-939998-55-6
* Language: English
* 302 pages
* Approximately 320 photographs
* Format: approx. 190 × 320 mm
* Black Edition
* Black leather-look cover with embossed decoration
* Cover illustration: Hydro74
* Open binding Swiss brochure format
* Yellow textile bookmark

The publication is currently listed as sold out on Dirk Behlau’s page, which increases its appeal for collectors of photography books, tattoo culture, and contemporary design publications.

Condition: Very good. Clean interior and well preserved, with bright images and strong visual impact. The cover shows minor signs of handling and storage, especially small scuffs on edges, corners, and the back cover, clearly visible in the photographs. The open binding is an original design feature and not deterioration.

An especially attractive publication both for its content and its physical creation: contemporary photography, tattoo art, graphic design, and alternative culture gathered in a volume with a strong presence, difficult to find new and conceived as a collectible editorial object.

An interesting opportunity to add to a specialized collection a visually extraordinary book on international tattoo culture from the early 21st century.