Artist embroiders portraits into his own flesh—and then tears them out

Some citizenry get portrait tattoos , but creative person David Catá has a different mode to give tribute to the people who have marked his lifespan — by denounce his hand . He lard their faces into the thenar of his left hand , and then pull them out in cringe - rush way .

Catá call hisUnder the Skinproject an “ autobiographical journal . ” He stitches portraits of family members , acquaintance , teachers , anyone who has been crucial in his life into his pelt . “ Their lives are interwoven with mine to build my story , ” he says on his website . As you may see from his pic , most of the time he just pierce the topmost layer of hide , but some of those portraits do leave bell ringer .

you could watch Catá take away one of his embroider portraits , but be warn , the television may make you squirm :