Artist Angela Su recently got a tattoo of 39 prayer fragments -- done without ink -- resulting in a series of red scars across her back.
According to the Japan Times, the painful exercise was meant to resemble the lashes Christ received in the Bible. The artwork is currently on display in an ongoing exhibit titled, "Hong Kong Eye," dedicated to the work of 24 contemporary Hong Kong artists.
Su's tattoo project seeks to address self-mutilation practices in our culture, from simple tattoos to other acts of body modification. On her blog, the artist provides disturbing details of the process.
Her projects -- "The Hartford Girl" and "One-Woman-Apartment" -- both focus on an artist's inclination to withstand pain, echoing the ideas of more seasoned performance artists like Marina Abramovic and Franko B.
Scroll the slideshow for a look at other shocking acts by artists below and let us know what you think of Su's tattoos in the comments.
"Hong Kong Eye Presented by Prudential" is on display at Artis Tree gallery in Hong Kong until May 31, 2013.