Preserved tattoos of the dead

The idea of preserving tattoos after death came into existence long before NAPSA. London's Wellcome Collection has over 300 specimens of preserved human flesh bearing tattoos, collected in the late 19th century. There are many more examples of smaller collections in Paris, Poland, Portugal, Berlin, and Austria. But what fascinates me the most is this lesser-known museum at Tokyo University, the Medical Pathology Museum, which houses pieces of skin collected since 1926 by Dr. Masaichi Fukushi.

"Fukushi would perform autopsies on donated cadavers and dissect off just the skin. He created a method of treatment to preserve the skin and kept them stretched in a glass frame, essentially like a leather. Later the ownership of the tattooed skin collection was passed on to Fukushi's son Katsunari. Katsunari added a further 20 tattooed skins himself and it's believed that the Medical Pathology Museum has 105 in its collection, many with full body suits."

[h/t: The Soul is Bone]

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A Look at Karl Arnaiz's "Duality"

It 's me, not the artist. Karl Arnaiz's "Duality" (currently on view at Eskinita Art Gallery ) is an invitation to ponder the complexities of life and appreciate the balance that exists even in differences. This 36 x 27-inch piece in charcoal and watercolor isn't just art that looks pretty on a wall. It's art that makes you stop, think, and maybe even re-evaluate how you see the world. Karl Arnaiz paints a meditation on death and its contrasting yet inevitable connection with life. In Duality, he explores the darker corners of the human experience. There is a certain sense of psychological imprisonment that permeates his work, as he paints a woman confined in a room with a disconnected skull floating against the wall. It shows how powerless humans are in the face of mortality and how the imminent passage of time from the woman’s face to the skull is simply nothing but a straight line, a blank, negative space on the wall, showing how nothing can obstruct death...

These ladies brought the chill.

The Philippines just bagged the gold medal at the recent International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) Women's Asia Cup in UAE. Yes, you read that right. Ice hockey. Champions. But let me tell you, what we lacked in natural frozen water, we more than made up for in heart, hustle, and teamwork. The ladies had a perfect tournament in Al Ain with victories against Kyrgyzstan (15-0), UAE (6-1), Malaysia (8-1) and India (4-1) before beating Iran (4-2) for the gold. They proved that you don't need snow to conquer the ice. You just need talent, determination, and maybe a little bit of that Pinoy magic that allows us to thrive in the most unexpected situations. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to find the nearest halo-halo vendor to celebrate.

The Adorable Sculptures of Yen Yen Lo

These images are from a series of wall sculptures created by Yen Yen Lo . Here you can see her intricately textured ceramic pieces, looking downright adorable. Yen Yen Lo's eye for the unique and whimsical is delightful. Apparently they are not intended for kids under 16. Fifteen-year-olds cannot be trusted with fragile stuff. Get them a Funko Pop instead.

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