At first glance, they're partially surreal, and wholly terrifying. But the second mouths on neck, open stitches revealing superficial muscles, and the bionic pistons breaking through the flesh on a person's arm, are actually not real. Rather, they are hyper-realistic tattoos created by talented tattoo artists.
Venezuelan artist Yomico Moreno, who works out of Caracas, has inked a variety of tattoos, ranging from sinister to downright surreal. Among his works are bionic arms, layers of skin 'peeled back' to reveal a beating heart, and the somewhat less dystopic images of ladybugs and butterflies. His attention to detail is apparent, meticulously adding shadows, shading, and dimension to his work, creating what is undeniably art - though not the kind typically seen in museums.
He told Tattoo Tree in an interview last year that he began taking interest in tattooing at the age of 14, and has since dedicated his life to the craft of permanently inking skin. The artist said that knowledge is the cornerstone for his often fantastical work. See the pics:
Strange anatomy: Venezuelan-born Yomico Moreno is a tattoo artist working out of Caracas; his hyper-realistic tattoos, including a second mouth on a man's neck, left, and a poorly sutured incision with the needle still 'attached,' require a second glance
Scar tissue: One of Moreno's specialties is to show layers of 'muscle and sinew' below the skin, though of course, it is only ink
Terrifying: This tarantula looks as if it's creeping down an unsuspecting man's arm; clever shading and shadows help make these images look real
Half man, half machine: Moreno has created a hyper-realistic piece of art on his client's bicep and forearm, giving the illusion of a cyborg
Man vs. machine: The bionic arms and biceps are a specialty of his
SOURCE
