Artist Inks 70 Strangers With Different ‘Frames’ Of The Same Tattoo To Make One ‘Motion Tattoo’

Except for a matching tattoo here and there, the majority of them are standalone pieces. Hungarian tattoo artist Balazs Bercsenyi, however, wanted to change that, and with the help of a group of strangers, created a project known as ‘A Life of a Rose.’

Tattoo artist with inked arms sitting at a table outdoors, wearing a black cap and white T-shirt.

Image credits: balazsbercsenyi

“I was on a flight to London last year and the idea just came to me,” Bercsenyi told Bored Panda. “I was mainly inspired by Kobe Bryant’s short animation film, Dear Basketball.”

“I wanted the story to revolve around a rose because it is such a beautiful symbol and metaphor of love,” he said. “It represents the cycle of life when the rose is born and then used as a tool to uplift and inject expression for a human being. The rose is a perfect example of how we should live our lives, to bloom and give our gift away.”

Artist meticulously tattooing a design under lamp light, part of a motion tattoo project.

Image credits: balazsbercsenyi

Indeed, the rose has been flourishing as a symbol for a long time now. Legends concerning this beautiful flower are entwined with gods, kings, princes of the church, and saints as well as with Brahma, Buddha, Mohammed, Cleopatra, Aphrodite, and many more. And it’s not just love that it represents. The rose also is linked to confidentiality. For example, the Latin expression “sub rosa”(literally, “under the rose”) means something told in secret, and in ancient Rome, a wild rose was placed at a door of a room where people discussed confidential matters.

A forearm displays a unique tattoo with layered faces and text, part of a motion tattoo project by the artist.

Image credits: balazsbercsenyi

“I sent out a message in Hungarian to my followers with a submission form to apply and take part in the rose tattoo project.” To the artist’s surprise, 600 people answered his call. “We then gave access to 100 applicants to book a session, with 70 slots available.”

“The only requirement was that all applicants who were getting a tattoo had to be native Hungarians, and almost all of the 600 was. So we narrowed them to 100 randomly.”

It took Bercsenyi seven days to complete the unique tattoo project in his native Hungary. When put together, the finished moving images showed the life cycle of a rose from a bud to its death. The process successfully bonded together 70 random people using what could be called a flipbook animation style.

Three stages of a flower tattoo showing a sprout, hands holding a rose, and a wilted flower in a vase, created by an artist.

Image credits: balazsbercsenyi

“The underlying purpose of this animation tattoo design was to create a sense of oneness, where the lasting outcome is in being part of something that is bigger than the individual.”

Close-up of a small, minimalist tattoo on an arm, part of a motion tattoo project.

Image credits: balazsbercsenyi

Minimalist tattoo on forearm, part of a motion tattoo series linking frames inked on different strangers.

Image credits: balazsbercsenyi

Minimal line tattoo of a small tree on skin, part of a motion tattoo series.

Image credits: balazsbercsenyi

Minimalist tattoo of a plant stem on forearm, part of a 'motion tattoo' project by an artist inking 70 strangers.

Image credits: balazsbercsenyi

Minimalist rose tattoo on skin, part of an artist's motion tattoo project involving 70 strangers with different frames.

Image credits: balazsbercsenyi

Tattoo of a single rose on an arm, part of an artist's motion tattoo project involving different frames.

Image credits: balazsbercsenyi

Tattoo showing a hand holding a rose, part of an artist's motion tattoo project on 70 strangers.

Image credits: balazsbercsenyi

Tattoo of hands holding a rose, part of a 'motion tattoo' series by artist on 70 strangers.

Image credits: balazsbercsenyi

Tattoo of a hand holding a flower on a person's upper back, part of a motion tattoo series by an artist.

Image credits: balazsbercsenyi

Tattoo of a hand placing a rose in a vase, part of a motion tattoo project involving 70 frames.

Image credits: balazsbercsenyi

A tattoo of a rose in a vase on skin, part of a series of motion tattoos by an artist inking strangers.

Image credits: balazsbercsenyi

Tattoo of a wilted flower in a vase on skin, part of artist's motion tattoo project.

Image credits: balazsbercsenyi

Forearm with a small tattoo, part of a series creating a motion tattoo across multiple individuals.

Image credits: balazsbercsenyi

Bercsenyi explained that his meticulous style is influenced by rituals, spirituality, geometry, the occult, and sculpture, and has become the cornerstone for his independent art projects.

Artist discusses motion tattoo frames with two people, showing a digital sketch on a tablet.

Image credits: balazsbercsenyi

After an apprenticeship in London at the age of 20, he went on to join the world-famous Bang Bang Tattoo crew in New York City. While working there, he has expanded his horizons by diving into illustration and fashion design as new mediums to bridge the gap between ancient tradition and modern elegance.

Artist tattoos a seated man in a studio with natural light, part of a motion tattoo project.

Image credits: balazsbercsenyi

Tattoo artist inks part of a motion tattoo on a person's neck.

Image credits: balazsbercsenyi

Artist inking a tattoo on a person in a studio with large industrial windows and overhead lighting.

Image credits: balazsbercsenyi

Thirty-five people showcasing different frames of a motion tattoo.

Image credits: balazsbercsenyi

Collage of 35 individuals showcasing different frames of a motion tattoo concept.

Image credits: balazsbercsenyi

Group of 70 strangers posing together, each with a unique frame of a motion tattoo.

Check out the video of the project below

Image credits: balazsbercsenyi

More info: balazsbercsenyi.com | Instagram | Facebook

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