Tattoo – Stories in Ink from the Mediterranean: New Exhibition opening at the Museum of Mediterranean and Near Eastern Antiquities in Stockholm, Sweden

For thousands of years, people across cultures have practiced tattooing – and today, Sweden ranks among the most tattooed countries in the world. The new exhibition Tattoo – Stories in Ink from the Mediterranean at the Museum of Mediterranean and Near Eastern Antiquities explores the long and diverse history of tattooing. The exhibition traces the journey of ink from ancient ritual to contemporary style. Tattoo opens on Friday, June 13, 2025.

Decorating your body with ink is not a new phenomenon – tattoos have been present in the Mediterranean region since antiquity. Ötzi the Iceman – who lived over 5,000 years ago – is one of the earliest known individuals with tattoos, bearing 61 markings. Tattooed mummies from ancient Egypt have also been discovered. In Jerusalem, Christian pilgrims got themselves tattooed, and here you can also find the world’s oldest tattoo studio.

Tattoo was originally curated in Milan, Italy, and for the exhibition in Stockholm the Swedish National Museums of World Cultures will be showing additional artefacts from the collections.

The exhibition explores how the meaning of tattoos has evolved across the Mediterranean region. Throughout history, tattoos have been used for protection, identity, beauty, faith, or to mark life’s transitions. Others have been forcibly tattooed, bearing permanent, stigmatizing marks as punishment or oppression.

The ancient artefacts will be displayed alongside contemporary photography showcasing tattoo traditions from different cultures around the Mediterranean. A new photo series features people in Sweden with tattoos that connect to personal stories, places, and cultures from the Mediterranean region.

– When people today choose to carry the tattoos of their ancestors, they also carry their stories, says Rani Kasapi, Head of Content & Learning at the National Museums of World Culture. Tattoos can be powerful expressions of identity, belonging, and memory. Through these bodily symbols, we gain new perspectives on history, and the exhibition creates a living link between the past and the present here in Sweden.

Today, tattooing is a recognized craft in Sweden, where practitioners can earn journeyman and master certifications. The exhibition features interviews with trailblazers from the Swedish tattoo scene. Heidi Hay, Sweden’s first female tattoo artist, is the chair of SRT (Sweden’s Registered Tattoo Artists). Valter Afrachte founded Doc Forest’s Studio, which is the first tattoo studio in Sweden, while Sara Swanson founded StaDemonia, Sweden’s first queer tattoo studio.

Tattoo – Stories in Ink from the Mediterranean opens Friday, June 13, 2025 and will be on view until June 14, 2026, at the Museum of Mediterranean and Near Eastern Antiquities. Tattoois curated by Luisa Gnecchi Ruscone and Guido Guerzoni, and produced by 24 Ore Cultura for the Museo delle Culture in Milan, Italy.

Press Contact:

Sandra Rathsman

sandra.rathsman@varldskulturmuseerna.se

+46 (0)10 456 12 87