Tat looks painful! Tattoo fans from around the world flock to Israel to show off weird and wonderful body art

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Barechested and lying on his back in a conference hall in Tel Aviv, Magneto isn't bothered that all eyes are on him. In fact, one eye is literally on him... a tattoo covering his right nipple.

The German tattoo model, whose entire face is covered in inkings, including his eyeballs, has travelled from Berlin to attend the third annual Israel Tattoo Convention.

And judging from his torso, he's keen on roses, zombies and cats.

Magneto is just one of many fans of body art who has flocked from all over the world today to get markings from some of Israel's leading artists at the two-day fair.

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Lying on his back in a conference hall in Tel Aviv today, Magneto - from Berlin - isn't bothered that all eyes are on him. In fact, one eye is literally on him... a tattoo covering his right nipple

The German tattoo model, whose entire face is covered in inkings, including his eyeballs, has travelled from Germany to attend the third annual Israel Tattoo Convention

Around 140 tattoo artists are participating in the event, which attracts thousands of visitors

Tattooing has risen greatly in popularity over the last decade in Israel

Fans of body art have flocked from all over the world to get markings from some of Israel's leading artists at the two-day fair

Attendees have travelled from countries including Poland, Cyprus, the Netherlands, Norway, Australia and Russia 

The event attracts thousands, with stalls by local artists, as well as performances by alternative bands. 

There are those in the Holy Land who will tut at the tats: it is widely held that tattooed Jews cannot be buried in a Jewish cemetery.

However, Dr Anna Felicity Friedman, a self-described 'tattoo historian', said: 'From my (and others') research, tattooing isn't necessarily prohibited in Judaism - there are many ways one can interpret, for example, the passage in Leviticus,' according to the Times Of Israel. 

The passage in question prohibits 'etching of the flesh' - and in modern times, the spectre of the Holocaust, where victims were inked with their prisoner camp number, rightly lingers.

Even so, tattooing has risen greatly in popularity over the last decade in Israel. For the converted, it is seen as an act of rebellion, and not conforming to the religious norms. 

The first convention was held in December 2014, with dozens of shops opening for artists to ply their trade. 

For the converted among the Jewish community, getting tattoos is seen as an act of rebellion

US tattoo artists Squidling Brothers perform their freak show during the annual Israel Tattoo Convention

The Squidling Brothers provide an edgy twist on the classic American sideshow

A passage in the book of Leviticus prohibits the 'etching of flesh' - but not everyone goes by the book

The first convention was held in December 2014, with dozens of shops opening for artists to ply their trade. Above, an Israeli gets inked