6000 people to get matching tattoos as part of international art project, here’s why

Thirty people in Manchester, aged between 18 and 30, are to take part in this unusual activity. Volunteers will each have one letter, measuring 1cm squared, tattooed permanently onto their skin.

Launched in 2012 by the Dutch artist Sander van Bussel, this project aims to raise awareness of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Speaking to Dazed Digital, Van Bussel explains that the death of his colleague, Steven Nyash, brought on the idea:

[he] was murdered in the slums of Korogocho. Advocating human rights cost him his life. For me, Steven was an example of somebody who really used his talent to make a change. He stood up for the rights of the people in his community. His death shocked me, and at the same time it made me reflect on my own situation. What could I do with my talents?

How were people selected?

Participants had to submit applications to become a part of the walking, talking version of this document, the opening phrase of which sums up the whole project: 'all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights'.

How will it work?

The Manchester arts venue Contact is managing and hosting the event on 9 September with Human Rights Tattoo. A local tattoo artist who specialises in fine line tattoos, Dax, will draw the tattoos and participants can donate a fee if they want to.

Sander van Bussel explains:

What better way to connect yourself to the moral principles of humanity then with a small piece of your human skin?

Van Bussel will document the participants’ personal stories on the day; he will ask them what the human rights movement means to them and why they want the tattoo.

Read more: The health risk you didn’t know about getting tattoos, and it’s not cancer

Has the project been a success?

4,601 people have already been tattooed and interviewed in 77 different countries. Van Bussel is aiming to complete the work on 10 December as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights celebrates its 75th anniversary.

He hopes that this project will get people talking, and will encourage them to know their rights. To learn more, for details about the campaign’s next tattooing events, visit the official website.

Read more:

⋙ The body part you have a tattoo on says a lot about your personality

⋙ This is the real reason you should never get a tattoo whilst pregnant

Sources used:

The Guardian: Project to tattoo human rights declaration on 6,773 people comes to UK

Dazed Digital: The artist turning tattoos into an act of protest