Artists often use the tattoo medium in metaphors, particularly in commenting on societal ills. Last week, we looked at how Dietrick Wegner used tattoo imagery in his art to make a statement on consumer culture.

Today's post reflects one artist's criticism of zealots who use religion as an instrument of exclusion and hate. Using a CNC tattoo machine as an instrument to convey this, Chris Eckert created "Auto Ink":

[...] This public face of religion is always so certain, self-confident, even arrogant. That anyone could possibly know the 'truth' when that truth is randomly assigned at birth is just funny.

Auto Ink is a three axis numerically controlled sculpture. Once the main switch is triggered, the operator is assigned a religion and its corresponding symbol is tattooed onto the persons arm. The operator does not have control over the assigned symbol. It is assigned either randomly or through divine intervention, depending on your personal beliefs.

For a look at how it works, see the video below.