Courtesy JC Sheitan Tenet(PARIS) — A French tattoo artist, who lost his right arm 22 years ago, recently received what’s been called the “world’s first” tattooing prosthetic arm.
JC Sheitan Tenet, 32, told ABC News Tuesday he received and demonstrated the first prototype of the tattoo gun prosthesis earlier this month during a convention in Devézieux, France.
Though Tenet has been tattooing with his left arm and hand for years, he’s now learning how to tattoo with his right arm using the “Edward Scissorhands”-esque tool, he said.
The tattoo gun arm was created by visual artist and engineer Jean-Louis Gonzalez, who goes by “Gonzal.”
Courtesy JC Sheitan Tenet
Gonzal told ABC News Tuesday that Tenet can control the prosthetic arm with his shoulder. Gonzal is still working on perfecting the prosthesis, and said he hopes the next prototype will give Tenet more wrist mobility.
Tenet explained that he uses the prosthesis to do a little filling, but he doesn’t rely on it to do elaborate artwork. He added that the needle is disposable and that the prosthesis is cleanable like a regular tattoo machine.
And though the prosthesis has a rusted metal look, it’s not rusted or unsanitary at all, Tenet said. The tattoo gun arm was painted in “steampunk style,” he explained. Steampunk is a genre of science fiction that typically features technology and aesthetic designs inspired by 19th century steam-powered machinery.
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