Tattoo Vending Machines in Berlin
Rahel Bachem, a Berlin-based illustrator, lecturer, and tattoo artist, has transformed old vending machines into a unique and trendy phenomenon - the Tattoomats. These machines, now found in cities like Berlin, Hamburg, Heidelberg, and Düren, dispense self-designed tattoo stickers featuring various animal designs.
Bachem's fascination with animals led her to draw them extensively, with a preference for exotic animals over common pets. Her designs range from minimalist and graphic to fineline style, resembling real line tattoos. This diversity is evident in the 19 Tattoomats that Bachem now operates, 13 of which are in Berlin alone.
The Tattoomats were initially inspired by Bachem's desire to advertise her tattoos and her love for old vending machines. She sources her machines, most of which are from the 1970s, from various locations including basements, garages, attics, antique dealers, and even a restaurant toilet.
One of Bachem's Tattoomats in Berlin, the Notes of Berlin vending machine, sells peel-off tattoos based on notes and drawings from Berlin's streets. However, the Tattoomats have gained a new purpose through Bachem's collaboration with screenwriter Martin Rosefeldt on a series of endangered animal tattoos and posters for the nature conservation organisation WWF.
The Tattoomat boxes for the WWF series contain illustrated peel-off tattoos and posters by Bachem and small profiles of each animal written by Rosefeldt. This collaboration has sparked a tattoo mania, with museum officials already in contact with Bachem. The WWF series will be installed in natural history museums and zoos, providing a poetic and informative introduction to the animal world for children.
Bachem's Tattoomats are also gaining popularity among celebrities. Henning May, a member of the indie rock band AnnenMayKantereit, is a fan of Bachem's Tattoomats and has ordered a whole box for himself and his friends.
The stickers produced for Bachem's Tattoomats are now manufactured by an Austrian printing company, and they are vegan and plastic-free. Bachem is currently collaborating with the Bern University of the Arts and the Bern Zoo to develop the Tattoomats themed around endangered animals.
For more information about Bachem's Tattoomats, visit her website or follow her on Instagram. The Tattoomats are not just a unique advertising medium or a fun way to get a temporary tattoo; they are a testament to Bachem's love for animals, art, and vintage machines.
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