Client:
Medium:
Published:
Hamburger Bilderbuch Preis
digital/Print
2019
For my concept project Omatsuri Island, which I submitted to the Hamburger Bilderbuch Preis, I envisioned an exclusive bathhouse for criminals, hidden in a secluded bay accessible only by water taxi. High prices and tight security ensure that only select guests are allowed in.
Here, the elite of the underworld gathers, safe from public scrutiny. In this secret retreat, they can relax without pretending to be something they’re not. Strict rules apply: conflicts are forbidden and result in the loss of all privileges.
Guests range from mafiosos and outlaws to shady businessmen and politicians. Clothing means little here; instead, their tattoos tell stories of their pasts. The bathhouse’s special herbal baths offer a form of redemption: in the warm waters, tattoos dissolve, and visitors leave visibly cleansed.
However, this effect is temporary. Those who fall back into old habits see new tattoos appear, pulling them back to the island. This endless cycle keeps the bathhouse busy with regulars.
The book offers glimpses into this hidden world, where guests sweat in saunas, hold secret meetings, or simply unwind. “Omatsuri Island” explores the contrast between purity and crime—a place where both coexist in a delicate balance.
Client:
Medium:
Published:
Hamburger Bilderbuch Preis
digital/Print
2019
For my concept project Omatsuri Island, which I submitted to the Hamburger Bilderbuch Preis, I envisioned an exclusive bathhouse for criminals, hidden in a secluded bay accessible only by water taxi. High prices and tight security ensure that only select guests are allowed in.
Here, the elite of the underworld gathers, safe from public scrutiny. In this secret retreat, they can relax without pretending to be something they’re not. Strict rules apply: conflicts are forbidden and result in the loss of all privileges.
Guests range from mafiosos and outlaws to shady businessmen and politicians. Clothing means little here; instead, their tattoos tell stories of their pasts. The bathhouse’s special herbal baths offer a form of redemption: in the warm waters, tattoos dissolve, and visitors leave visibly cleansed.
However, this effect is temporary. Those who fall back into old habits see new tattoos appear, pulling them back to the island. This endless cycle keeps the bathhouse busy with regulars.
The book offers glimpses into this hidden world, where guests sweat in saunas, hold secret meetings, or simply unwind. “Omatsuri Island” explores the contrast between purity and crime—a place where both coexist in a delicate balance.
Sketches: