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Tattoo Life UK 2013.09.10
Citation preview
n° 84£ 3.95
Finland 9,00 €Benelux 7,00 €
Portugal 7,80 € cont.Norwegen 89,00 NOK
Slovakia 8,90 €
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DOMANTASPARVAINISTHE SUBTLE DETAILSOF DARK REALISTIC
HENNING JØRGENSENTHIRTY YEARSOF TATTOOART HISTORY AND TRADITIONS
CONVENTIONSVIVA LAS VEGASDETROITNAPLES
SI’Ì LIUFAUTHE RENAISSANCEOF POLYNESIANTATTOOING
THE 9th INTERNATIONAL LONDONTATTOOCONVENTION
PREVIEW
TATTOO ARTISTS
CHOSEN by
FOR TATTOO LOVERS
TattooArtistsTattooArtistsTA
TTOO
ART
ISTS
YEA
RBOO
K
UK & Ireland Yearbook 20142014--20132013
NEW!n°1
Cover-ann-UK-010 CORR.indd 1
16-09-2010 14:50:23
YEARBOOK 2013-2014 ON SALE AT YOUR NEWSSTAND IN SEPTEMBERWorldMags.netWorldMags.net
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I M a x T a t t o o i n g
Skin 2P R O F E S S I O N A LTATTOO MACHINE
Michele AgostiniTribal Tattoo Studio Roma - Italy
MADE IN
I t a l yw i t h S w i s sm o t o r
Dani MartosDemon Tattoo La Seu D'Urgell Spain
Matteo CascettiTattoo Artist Studio Fabriano - Italy
+390.541.642160www.imaxshop.com
I Max International SrlViale Emilia 41 - 47838 Riccione Italy
Tel. +390 541 642160 Fax +390 541 643542www.imaxshop.com info@imaxshop.com
softness totally adjustableWorldMags.netWorldMags.net
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Photography: Christian SaintChristianSaintPhotography.com
Cover Model: Hattie Watson Hair & Makeup: Aly Smith
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Spy
Shopping
Music
New Sounds
Who’s who
VIVALAS VEGAS
Vanishing in merchandising
ARTISTIC CONTAMINATIONS
LIFE IN STYLE
FOSTER THE PEOPLE
By Susana Victoria
ECHOES FROM THE UNDERGROUND
Adrian Dominic
Apocalyptic mystical vision
Pin ups, vintage cars
and tattoos
By Susana Victoria
n°84F
or some time now we’ve watched how tattoo art has detached from the skin and is living a life of its own thanks to other forms of support. Sometimes it almost feels like the real tattoos, the ones on skin, have just
become an excuse to promote and sell various gadgets that sport tattoo images. It’s almost as if skin has become the living and involuntary testimonial of a raging flood of objects, which can push the essence of tattoo-art and its origins into the background. Let me start by saying that we have absolutely nothing against the spread and widespread diffusion of tattoo-merchandising, which is often one of the main ways people first learn about and appreciate tattoo art.That said, for us tattoo art continues to be an experience consisting of needles, skin, art, soul and purpose; the “physical” contact between the tattooist and the person getting the tattoo cannot be left out, because it is a spiritual – and not just recreational - representation. What looks good on a coffee cup or on a pair of shoes is not necessarily what looks best on the skin, which should come first before anything else, as far as we’re concerned. A person’s skin should never be put in second place, behind an object, because skin is not just one more medium; it has a vital and cognitive value which rises above and beyond. Certainly, we are in the forefront when it comes to appreciating and promoting high-quality contaminations between tattoo art and other artistic realities. But the bar must be held very high: we have to be sure that any given expression is the best way to fully appreciate the beauty of tattoo art, we need to become familiar with the various tattoo styles and appreciate their subtleties and differences, and we should never tire of discovering new, important artists. But in order to fully enjoy this beauty, it must remain precisely that: “the art of tattooing”, and not become “the art of merchandising”. True tattoo art cannot exist if it doesn’t start on the skin. On skin, which is just as unique and irreplaceable as our souls.
by Miki Vialetto
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HENNING JØRGENSEN
NAPLES
Cover girl
Calendar Girl 2014
PREVIEW
Culture
DOMANTAS PARVAINIS
DETROIT
Agenda
FLASHSAMUELE BRIGANTI
TATTOO COLLECTION
Book52
SI’Ì LIUFAU
76The 9th London Tattoo
Convention. What’s in store for
the most popular three-day event
The origins of tattooing in
Europe
By Luisa Gnecchi Ruscone
The renaissance of the
Polynesian style
By Horitaka
International appointments
with ink
Cleo Wattenström: interview with
the Tattoo Energy calendar girl 2014
Royal Tattoo celebrates thirty years!
By Miki Vialetto
A report from the convention
held in Italy’s legendary city
By Anna Rossi
Horror and fantasy from
Lithuania
By Stefania Perosin
18th Annual Motor City
Tattoo Expo
HATTIE WATSON
By Simone Sacco
Don Ed Hardy: Tattootime
The five-issue series of the
legendary magazine reprinted
in one single volume
Published by Mediafriends Srl Viale Papiniano 49 20123 Milano ITALYwww.tattoolife.com
Editorial DirectorMiki VialettoArt Direction & production Mediafriends Srl Viale Papiniano, 4920123 Milano Tel. +39 02 8322431Fax +39 02 89424686mediafriends@tattoolife.comEditorial CoordinatorMiki Vialettomikivialetto@tattoolife.comEditorial AssistantsMargherita BaleniStefania PerosinSimone Saccoredazione@tattoolife.comProduction CoordinatorsCristina MariniGraphics DesignersLella VivaceMeera Razzagrafica@tattoolife.comExternal editorial staffLuisa Gnecchi Ruscone, Debora Marcati, Richard Todd, Christian Saint, Anna Rossi, Susana Victoria e HotitakaStaff Officesegreteria@tattoolife.comPrintingReggiani Spa Via Rovera, 40 - Gavirate (Va), ItalyTel. +39 0332 549533
DistributionUKComag, West Drayton MiddlesexItalySO.DI.P. S.p.a. Via Bettola 18 20092 Cinisello Balsamo (Mi)GermanyDPV, Nordendstraße2 D-64546 Mörfelden-WalldorfFranceMLP - 55, Bd De La Noirée St. Quentin FallavierAustraliaNetwork Services 66-68 Goulburn Street, SydneyCanadaDisticor Magazine Distribution Services Ajax, Ontario, CanadaSpain & MexicoSGELAvenida Valdelaparra, 2928108 Alcobendas (Madrid)South AmericaHispamediaBarcelona, Spain
USA Edition published byFive Star Media IncPO BOX 1071Pacifica, CA 94044USA distributionCMG circulation services, Princeton, NJ
Brazil Edition published byEditora Amazonwww.grupoamazon.com.br
Tattoo Life is a bi-monthly magazine published by Mediafriends. All rights reserved. Even the partial reproduction of texts or images is forbidden without written authorization of the editor. The material sent to Mediafriends will not be returned. The material received can be used by Mediafriends for all their publications both for paper and digital. Any omission of authors’ names, texts, photos or designs solely depends on the fact that it was impossible to do so. Tattoo Life undertakes to comply with these duties.
Tattoo Life is available also in digital version:www.tattoolife.com/digitalversionWorldMags.netWorldMags.net
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TATTOOSPY
WEAR YOUR DREAMSWEAR YOUR DREAMS – MY LIFE IN TATTOOS
ED HARDY with JOEL SELVINThomas Dunne Books
LE REGARD DU DRAGONROLF KESSELRING b&w illustrations
Editions Kappa
Le Regard du dragon
TATTOO SHOWCASE
TATTOO SHOWCASE INSPIRATIONAL DESIGNS FROM THE WORLD’S LEADING TATTOO ARTISTSEdited by Lal Hardy
THAI MAGIC TATTOOS
THAI MAGIC TATTOOSTHE ART AND INFLUENCE OF SAK YANT ISABEL AZEVEDO DROUYER PHOTOGRAPHY: RENÉ DROUYER
RIVER BOOKS
When he was 10 years old, Ed Hardy was literally swept off his feet by tattoos and over time, he
was able to transform his fascination into a successful career. He spent his teenage years in
California, got a degree from the San Francisco Art Institute, and in the 60s became a pioneer
of an art form which at the time was considered “minor”. In just a short time he became an
icon in the tattoo world, with a fortunate brand that stamped his designs onto every kind of
imaginable object: t-shirts, perfumes, and even energy drinks. His incredible and fascinating
life comes alive in this book, which was written together with Joel Selvin, and includes his early
beginnings as a tattooist all the way through to the creation of a real empire.
All the stories in this book have one common denominator: tattoos.
These fantasy tales are a bit unsettling, ironic, and their dark
accents recall fascinating and bizarre imaginary worlds. The author
challenges readers with a little game, in which they have to recognize
the protagonists. In fact, hidden in these pages are Filip Leu, Tin
Tin, Mao and many others. All you have to do is recognize their
names which are only slightly disguised, and follow their imaginary
adventures. The book contains illustrations created by important
artists like Titine Leu, Blaise and Wido de Marval.
Edited by Lal Hardy, the owner of the legendary New Wave Tattoo in
London, Tattoo Showcase is organized according to subjects: animals,
famous people, tribal and horror designs, dragons and cartoons. This
book, containing over 600 color photos of tattoos in a variety of styles
and created by the finest artists in the world, is a precious resource
for tattooists and fans alike. Tattoo artists highlighted in this volume
include Joe Capobianco, Tim Hendricks, Bob Tyrrell, Hanna Aitchinson
and many more.
Sak-Yant is a form of
sacred tattoo which is
widespread in Southeast
Asia, particularly in Laos,
Burma, Cambodia and
Thailand. This book is based
on an important, 3-year
study carried out by the
authors in the field, and
provides readers with an
invaluable photo report,
notes and interviews
with masters of this art.
This volume provides
an in-depth look at the
world of sacred tattoo and
illustrates one of the last
examples of this authentic
and traditional art.
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TATTOOSPY
TATTOOS TENTACLESPHOTOGRAPHS BY JULIAN MURRAY
WWW.JULIANMURRAYPHOTO.COM
WWW.TATTOOSANDTENTACLES.COM
Tattoos TENTACLES
An App For Tattoo Artists
ITATTOOL by Red Lion Ltd
Facebook: iTattool
CHAGALL MODERN MASTER
UNTIL OCTOBER 5th
TATE LIVERPOOL
ALBERT DOCK
LIVERPOOL, UK
WWW.TATE.ORG.UK
VISITING.LIVERPOOL@TATE.ORG.UK
AMERICAN MODERN: Hopper to O’Keeffe
UNTIL JANUARY 27th 2014
MOMA
11 W 53RD ST
NY (USA)
WWW.MOMA.ORG
The world of tattoo art
meets the soft, fascinating
and mysterious body of a
sea creature with tentacles
in this photographic
collection. Julian Murray
has immortalized the faces
and bodies of lovely women
and many tattoo collectors
in over 100 breathtaking
shots, which all share the
unnerving and yet striking
presence of animals’
entwining tentacles.
iTattool is the first application created and developed specifically
for tattooists. With this app you can: manage clients by creating
an easily accessible database, including photos and contact
information; check rates, by activating a kind of taxi meter which
calculates the amount of time a tattooist uses to create his or her
work; organize, print and re-elaborate
images. All the tricks of the trade are
registered in the Dashboard section,
which can be shared with other tattooists.
Available at the AppStore for just 3 dollars.
It opened in June, but can be visited until October 5th. We’re talking
about the show dedicated to Marc Chagall, one of the greatest artists
of the past century. Held at the Tate Liverpool, you can admire more
than seventy paintings and a selection of works on paper which hail
from all over the world. Chagall: Modern Master is one of the most
complete shows dedicated to the Russian artist in the UK over the
past 15 years, and explores all
of the topics that were most
dear to this artist’s heart.
Starting August 17th, American Modern goes onstage at New York’s MoMA.
This show explores American art from 1915 to 1950 and takes a critical
look at the fast changes which occurred in U.S. society during the first half
of the twentieth century. The show achieves this aim by using some of the
museum’s most important masterpieces – paintings, drawings, prints, and
photographs – of artists
such as: George Bellows,
Stuart Davis, Edward
Hopper, Georgia O’Keeffe,
Charles Sheeler, Alfred
Stieglitz, Andrew Wyeth and
many more.
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SHOPPING
BLACK13BRAND.COM
WWW.AKUMUINK.COM
Extreme Nerd Lifestyle
THINKGEEK.COM
FACEBOOK: TIM SHUMATE ILLUSTRATIONS
WWW.ARTOFWHERE.COM
Of all the smartphone covers that exist on the market, there had
to be some depicting tattoo subjects and designs: that’s precisely
what is proposed by Black 13 Brand, a brand of the Black 13
Tattoo Parlor. This studio has decided to decorate its clients
not only with tattoos, but also with original and unique t-shirts
and gadgets.
Aldora and Joey have transformed their hobby into a career and
since 2008 they’ve been selling their hand-painted t-shirts online.
In Japanese, ‘Akumu’ means nightmare: this brand and all of its
creations are inspired by Japanese horror films and all the fun pop
icons which come from Japan. Other influences include fairytales like
Alice in Wonderland, and Tim Burton films like Edward Scissorhands.
They’ll ship anywhere!
The Batman or Star Wars bathrobes, the USB keys shaped like
Superman or Wonder Woman, the lens-shaped cup and the
backpack decorated like a Nintendo joystick...fans of cinema,
games and TV series will find everything they’ve always
dreamed of on: thinkgeek.com
Tim Shumate is a 29 year-old, Chicago-based artist who
works in design and illustrations. His pillows have become
a must-have for tattoo lovers…you just might sleep better
if you lay your head on the delicious body of a fairytale heroine…
in version pin-up!
Pin-ups on pillows
OUR TIPS FOR THIS NUMBER’S SHOPPING ARE PARTICULARLY AMUSING: THERE ARE SOME PRECIOUS GEMS TO WEAR LIKE HAND
PAINTED SILK SCARVES, HOME FURNISHINGS WHICH WILL MAKE YOU SMILE LIKE BIBIB’S STUFFED ANIMAL HUNTING TROPHIES,
IPHONE COVERS DECORATED BY THE BLACK 13 TATTOO PARLOR AND MINE’S TATTOOED TEDDY BEARS. YOU’LL ALSO DISCOVER
NIGHTMARISH T-SHIRTS PAINTED BY ALDORA AND JOEY, THE LOST APOSTLE’S ROCK AND ROLL JEWELRY, TIM SHUMATE’S SOFT
PILLOWS SPORTING PIN-UPS AND, FINALLY, THINKGEEK.COM - A MUST-SEE WEBSITE FOR TRUE NERDS. LOVERS OF TATTOOS,
FASHION AND ONLINE SHOPPING…HAVE FUN!
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SHOPPING
WWW.MI-NE.IT
WWW.DREAMLUXE.COM
WWW.LOSTAPOSTLE.ETSY.COMWWW.BIBIB.NL
Teddy bears are an all-time
favorite toy, loved and cuddled
by children all over the world,
and collector items for adults.
Teddy bears meet tattoos
for the first time – thanks to
this Italian project. The Mine
bears are unique pieces made
from cotton, eco-friendly
leather and viscose, stuffed
with cotton and carefully
hand stitched and painted
with acrylics and watercolors.
Each piece is handmade
and recalls the iconographic
history of modern body art,
starting with the 50s and
moving through to today.
Each owner can decide how
to decorate their Teddy: you
choose the color, material,
tattoo and piercing you want,
or you can choose from their
one-of-a-kind pieces.
Sugar skulls, Maneki-neko, sparrows and roses in traditional
style, as well as other subjects, are hand painted onto lovely silk
scarves and headscarves by an American artist who skillfully
and whimsically paints memories of her trips onto precious
accessories to wear. For those who don’t give up on their passions
and want to wear them with style.
If you’re looking for unique, original, handmade objects, don’t let the Lost
Apostle’s bronze jewelry get away! For him and for her, for the young and
the less young, for tattoo fans and rock and roll lovers: check out this
collection offering earrings, pendants, bracelets and rings which can be
personalized. Everything is designed and created by James and Nadya.
Bibib’s idea is simply fantastic! If you prefer
animals alive rather than dead, but you
still want a trophy to display in your home,
then here’s the solution for you: top-
quality stuffed animals resembling deer,
rhinoceroses, tigers and mouflon sheep to
decorate the walls of your home and make
you smile every time you pass by them.
Hunting trophies...stuffed-animal style
Teddy-bear for adults
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MUSIC
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INTERVIEW AND PHOTOS BY: SUSANA VICTORIA, VESTIGE PHOTOGRAPHY PRESS PHOTO E ALBUM ART BY: SONY RECORDSASSISTANT: KAHLEY KEEFER
THANKS SO MUCH FOR
BEING WITH US TODAY,
MARK. CAN YOU TELL US
WHAT HAS INFLUENCED
YOU IN CHOOSING YOUR
TATTOOS?
For me, tattoos are a
reflection of yourself,
your style, and what
you like. It’s that
freedom of self-expression that I like. All my
tattoos are pretty random, and they don’t
really have anything to do with music. I only
planned one of my tattoos, and the rest I had
done on a whim at tattoo parties thrown once
or twice a month by my good friend’s brother.
A lot of my tattoos are text; I love them to
look like stamps. But the most meaningful one
is on my ribs - it’s an apple with ears. I used
to call my grandma ‘Granny Smith’ (her last
name was Smith), like the apple variety. As a
kid I remember asking her to wiggle her ears,
and since one’s ears never stop growing, she
had huge ears. I was shocked by the
way she wiggled them, and asked
her to teach me how to do it. She
said that I had to eat Granny Smith
apples, and that if I ate enough
of them I would eventually be able
to wiggle my ears too! That memory
is so vivid in my mind. She was
a pretty heroic woman in our family,
so getting that tattoo was a special
tribute to her.
HAVE YOU EVER RUN INTO PEOPLE WHO
HAVE ‘FOSTER THE PEOPLE’ TATTOOS?
It’s pretty awesome, because it
happens quite often. Usually I’ll see
either a lyric or artwork. Our artwork
is kind of tattooesque, and as tattoos
they turn out pretty cool. I’ve liked a
lot of them, even though it’s a little
weird when someone comes up to
me and says, “check out my tattoo!”
FROM COAST TO COAST IN THE USA, IN AUSTRALIA AND
JAPAN AS WELL AS THROUGHOUT LATIN AMERICA AND
EUROPE, FOSTER THE PEOPLE HAS TAKEN THE WORLD
BY STORM IN A VERY SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME. YOU
MIGHT RECOGNIZE THEM BY THEIR INSANELY POPULAR
SONG, “PUMPED UP KICKS” AND BY THE CRAZY LOOK
IN FRONT-MAN MARK FOSTER’S EYES, BUT THERE’S SO
MUCH MORE TO COME, AS DRUMMER MARK PONTIUS
TELLS US. MARK’S INTEREST IN LYRIC AND SYMBOLISM
ARE HIGHLIGHTED IN WHAT HE’S CHOSEN AS BODY ART,
AND ALTHOUGH HE DIDN’T SHARE THE MEANING BEHIND
THE AMBIGUOUS “FREE MAGO” TATTOO ON HIS ARM, HE
DID TELL US ABOUT HIS DEEP RESPECT FOR JAMES BROWN
AND HIS GRANDMOTHER.
SO STAY TUNED TO THIS ELECTRONIC-INFUSED DANCE
ROCK, AND CHECK THEM OUT THE NEXT TIME THEY HIT
YOUR CITY.
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and I think, “wow, that’s our band!” It’s an
amazing feeling.
WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU ARE NOT IN THE
STUDIO OR ON TOUR?
I surf a lot, and shape boards. We’ve linked up
with a great place down in San Diego named
Shaper Studios. We’ve been focusing a lot on
making our own boards and getting into the
craftsmanship of it. During my time off from
work, I read a lot. I just got two dogs, so I’ve
been reading a book by Cesar Milan on how to
train your own dog.
WHAT IS THE BEST SHOW YOU’VE EVER PLAYED?
A bat mitzvah we played back in December. It
was our first and, probably last, bat mitzvah.
But jokes aside…South America’s hunger for new
music was so evident. The energy was so strong
there. We were down there for a month touring…
Argentina, Brazil, and Mexico. We had fun during
every show there.
WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST ACHIEVEMENT SO FAR?
Personally, being on Saturday Night Live has
been the best achievement so far. It seems
kind of small in the grand scheme of everything
else that has happened to our band, but it’s
not music-based, like the Grammy Awards. It’s
a great mix of comedy, acting, and all that.
Just being amongst people who aren’t in your
industry and being accepted by them was
amazing. We only rehearsed for one day and
then the day after we did the show, but during
those two days we got to know everyone, and
they accepted us into their family. We had Kenny
G as our guest. We had called him up a month
before to set it up, but a Kenny G revival was
something we’d been talking about for a year
and had mentioned during interviews. But then
Katy Perry stole the idea from us.
WHO DO YOU LOOK UP TO THE MOST, MUSICALLY
SPEAKING?
James Brown. Just the way he controlled the
music and his band, along with the energy and
the vibe of performing live - no one’s ever done
it that way. If any of his band members ever
messed up, James Brown would turn around and
point at him during the show, and afterwards
that person would have to pay a fine. His band
was always so in line, because nobody wanted
to pay a fine! Just running that tight of a ship
is an awesome thing; he made some amazing
music because of that.
YOU WERE IN A KIND OF SOUL BAND BEFORE
FOSTER THE PEOPLE, RIGHT?
I was in a hip hop band that was kind of soulful,
with some funk elements. A lot of my favorite
drummers, such as James Gadson, and the old
funk drummers, have really influenced me.
IN TERMS OF MUSIC, WHAT DIRECTION WILL YOUR
NEXT ALBUM TAKE?
We’re not quite sure; we’re still fleshing out
some ideas. We want to take a new direction,
while maintaining some similarities with the
old record. We don’t want to make another
“Pumped Up Kicks”; we’re always trying to push
beyond boundaries with our music.
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A.A.V.V. ‘The Amazing World Of Prog’(Immaginifica/Aereostella)
BLACK SABBATH‘13’(Vertigo/ Universal)
KITTY IN A CASKET‘Bittersweet’(Better Than Hell Records)
DOPE D.O.D.‘Da Roach’(3S/ Rough Trade)
NEWSOUNDS
BY SIMONE SACCO
Do you adore the one and only
Progressive D’Antan? Then you’ve
got to go out right now and get
‘The Amazing World Of Prog’,
a truly interesting collection of
recording gems which is perfect
for fans of this timeless music,
which first took hold in Europe
and then went off to conquer
the rest of the world. Divided
into two CDs recorded live at the
famous festival Prog Exhibition
in Rome, this album offers a legendary and outstanding duo - ‘Bourèe’
- between PFM and Jethro Tull’s Ian Anderson. And then there’s Steve
Hackett (ex Genesis) who joins hands with New Goblin in its famous
‘Watcher of the Skyes’ and Balletto Di Bronzo, who is accompanied on
this album by Richard Sinclair, the bass player and vocals for Caravan/
Camel. Mel Collins (past band member of King Crimson) offers an
intriguing performance with his elegant sax in Arti & Mestieri style in the
tune ‘Valzer per Domani’, while Martin Barre reinterprets ‘Aqualung’ with
Biglietto Per L’Inferno.Folk. A grand total of 19 creatively joyous tunes.
Tunes which manage to be joyous – also, and especially - in 2013.
The birth of this album has been
complicated (in the true sense
of the word) for the legendary
Black Sabbath. Complicated due
to a series of reasons that are
well-known: producer Rick Rubin
has been announcing it for over
a decade, Ozzy had set it aside
so that he could concentrate on
his solo career (with amazing
results), Bill Ward plays the
part of the loudly missing
member (even if Brad Wilk of Rage Against the Machine puts his soul into
hammering those drums) and, last but not least, ‘13’ coincided with Tony
Iommi’s serious illness, which slowed down its release even more. So -
are we ready to ring the death toll? No way. Rock always triumphs when it
exists in the DNA of whoever is playing it. The Sabs prefer to inhabit their
own dimension, so that the platter seems to have been produced in 1971,
max, with everything from proto-metal, vicious blues and a few hints at
the progressive to come. The tunes – just eight in the standard edition
– roll out magnificently and ‘End of the Beginning’, ‘God is Dead’ (which
comes close to nine minutes!), ‘Damaged Soul’ and the suffocating ‘Loner’
sound like pure magic. Ok, if this is the last work of the three from
Birmingham then there could be no better ending. But it’s been pretty
scary waiting to listen to it…
Just where is contemporary
hip hop headed? Well, that’s a
million euro question given that,
for some time now, YouTube
and various social networks
have been unleashing a wave of
pseudo-creativity which absorbs
everything - but not always with
satisfying results. Maybe there’s
a lack of real crews, along with
ideas or a focus on a project…
so that’s why we can do nothing
but rejoice over the return of the Dutch Dope D.O.D. (friends of Korn and
Limp Bizkit who often took them on tour) and their horror-rap made
even more agonizing in this, their second work, entitled ‘Da Roach’. The
cover is fantastic, the group is proudly and closely knit (while the type of
music has nothing to do with it, they seem a little like Cypress Hill of the
third millennium in terms of their mentality), and the album’s length is
substantial (it’s a double album with 18 tracks), representing a top-quality
study in foundations and flow. And then there are a couple of splendid
feature guests (Kool Keith in ‘Brainworms’ and new-guy-on-the-block
Redman in the explosive ‘Groove’) which show us that tonight, rap and
rhymes can easily go to bed together…to dream of post-atomic nightmares
and a buzz that will break the speakers…
The “kitty” has grown up. That’s
the first impression you get when
you listen to the third album of
Kitty in a Casket, an explosive
psychobilly group originally from
Austria, who is ready to hit the
States soon. The band (guided by
the original team of vocalist Kitty
Casket, guitarist Billy Batt and
drummer Mike Machine) has put
out its third album and, thanks
to a mix of iron, has produced a
work which is strong because of its variety. Bass player Tom Mooner (who
joined the group just one year ago, but has the experience of a veteran)
certainly pushes the limit and makes fans of this style happy, but the
songwriting has become stronger (‘In Blood We Trust’), more varied (the
nighttime atmosphere which envelopes ‘Kreepsville’), suavely native
(what a great idea to sing two tracks in German - ‘Die Geister Die Ich Rief’
and ‘Bis Der Worhang Fallt’) and even funny (‘The Cheesy Song’ could
have been on any Californian emo-punk album at the end of the 90s). In
short, this album is mature. With a maturity whose nails are still well-
sharpened so that they can scratch at the right moment!
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THE PROPHETOF THE APOCALYPSE
www.adriandominic.com
WHO 'S WHO
TATTOOIST AND PAINTER WITH A CHICANO HERITAGE, AND A SIGNIFICANT BACKGROUND IN GRAFFITI, ADRIAN DOMINIC HAS
CHARACTERIZED HIS LIFE WITH AN ALL-PERVASIVE APPROACH TO ARTISTIC RESEARCH. HIS EVOLUTION DOESN’T SIMPLY
HAVE TO DO WITH EXPERIMENTATION AND IMPROVING HIS TECHNIQUE, BUT INVOLVES A COMPELLING AND SPIRITUAL
PATH…AND THE IMAGES HE CREATES REVEAL THE INDELIBLE TRACKS OF THIS PATH. WE INTERVIEWED HIM ABOUT HIS
PROJECT - APOKALUPSIS – A SERIES OF PAINTINGS INSPIRED BY A BOOK FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT, AND WE DISCOVERED
THAT DOMINIC HAS A TRULY CHARISMATIC PERSONALITY AND VERY UNIQUE TALENT.
WHEN DID
YOUR
ARTISTIC
CAREER
BEGIN?
I was 15,
and a few
years after
I started
making
graffiti I started to do so seriously. I
was very blue collar about my approach
to graffiti, and me and my crew were
very disciplined and behaved like our
graffiti was work that needed to be
done. This attitude helped us maintain
a standard in what we were doing as
writers. Of course, I wasn’t getting paid
to do it, but that work ethic had been
established before I even began art
commercially.
COULD YOU TELL US ABOUT YOUR PROJECT
APOKALUPSIS - A CONTEMPORARY VIEW
FROM THE REVELATION OF JOHN THE
DIVINE, WHICH WAS RECENTLY PRESENTED
AT THE SACRED GALLERY OF NEW YORK,
AMONG OTHERS?
“Apokalupsis” is a series of paintings.
I just finished illustrating a few
characters from the Book of Revelation
at the end of the New Testament. It
describes the revelation John had
when he was exiled to the island of
Patmos by the emperor, because he
had followed Christ. While there, he
was inspired to write a coded message
in the form of a very elaborate and
engaging story with a cast of many
characters. I chose some of these
characters. The choices I made about
perspective and the placement of
characters in the composition were
made because I wanted viewers to
relate to them in an immediate way.
I tried to make it so that the frame
and the wall were the only things
that separated viewers from another
reality. It’s been by far not only the
most ambitious project story-wise that
I’ve ever done, but also the first time
I’ve ever achieved a series of such
large paintings. I did this so that the
paintings would have a presence that is
foreboding and a reverence that cannot
be ignored.
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WHAT ARE YOU AIMING FOR IN YOUR
INTERPRETATION OF RELIGIOUS SYMBOLS WHICH
ARE SO DEEPLY ENTRENCHED IN OUR COLLECTIVE
IMAGINATION?
What I’m aiming for is very complex, but
very simple at its core, I suppose. I want to
inspire positive interactions. I want to inspire
love. I want to bring glory to God. It’s kind
of always been this way, but I’ve always been
much more cryptic about it in my art. In this
series I was more direct in referencing actual
biblical text, and tried to stay faithful to those
descriptions. I put a lot of faith into the
idea that these particular images, the ones
I was about to work on for nearly 2 years,
were somehow more potent than anything
I could make on my own. I always prayed
before painting, and sometimes prayed while
I worked. I don’t feel I was worthy enough to
try and illustrate what I consider to be the
strongest symbolic characters or scenarios in
this book. And even with the choices I did
make, I was only mildly satisfied with the
results. I think I could do much better. But
I also think that, regardless of the technical
flaws, people were able to relate to the
characters because, somehow, they’d seen
them before.
WHAT KIND OF REFLECTIONS LED YOU TO
UNDERTAKE THIS KIND OF ANALYSIS AND HOW
DID YOU CARRY OUT YOUR RESEARCH ON THESE
SACRED TOPICS?
There are many reflections that I have, regarding
my faith and my behavior. My closest friends
know how important my spiritual “journey” is
to me. It has an impact on almost all of my
actions. I want to be the best person that I can,
and I reflect on past mistakes, some of which
I’ve repeated many times. I often thought of
quitting while I was doing this series because
I was painting with a method I wasn’t familiar
with. I couldn’t handle it on my own. A lot
happened during that time. I was dealing with a
ton of family issues, health concerns, financial
strife, the end of a long-term relationship, and
I even had to move to another state two weeks
before my show in New York. I saw these
situations as tests, hurdles, and challenges
which gave me the chance to prove how much
I wanted to create these images. Faith is a big
deal to me. So I prayed a lot, asking for the
strength and wisdom to get this work done. I
read the Bible and studied a ton of old master
works. I looked at how some of the characters
had been illustrated before, and what symbols
were supposed to be where. I thought that
staying faithful to the biblical interpretations of
the images would be a testament, even just to
myself, of the reverence I have for the idea and
mystery of faith. And while a lot got in my way,
the winds still pushed me to complete these
images. It has been quite a ride.
WHAT RELATIONSHIP DO YOU HAVE WITH RELIGION
AND WITH SACRED ICONOGRAPHY?
I am Christian, in the rawest form of the word. I
subscribe to the teachings and example of
Jesus Christ. I’ve always had the faith, but
my faith has interfered with my relationship
with the church. I stopped going when I was
12. Recently I returned, with new perspectives,
and I don’t intend to let my negative emotions
towards certain acts of man ever interfere
with my choice again. I don’t go to church
every Sunday, sometimes I don’t go for a
while. But the word of God itself has always
played a role in my life, especially in my art. I
paint dark images, but that doesn’t mean that
they aren’t images of reverence and spiritual
perseverance. In fact, I feel peaceful when I
make them.
HOW MUCH HAVE YOUR CHICANO ORIGINS
INFLUENCED YOU?
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I didn’t think my Chicano heritage played a
major role in my early life, especially after I got
into high school, other than dealing with racism
in Phoenix. It wasn’t until I was an adult that
I realized just how much of a role it actually
did play. Not only had all of the heavy Catholic
iconography influenced my aesthetics, but also
my behavior. I’m not a great man, but I was
taught to try and be a decent man.
AND YOUR GRAFFITI-ART BACKGROUND?
Graffiti saved and changed my life. When you
risk everything to make art that’s illegal, it
rewires your brain. Graffiti is a lifestyle; the paint
on the wall is a byproduct of that lifestyle. This
mentality still plays a huge role in my life today,
reminding me that there’s always a better way to
do things. It’s affected how I draw, sculpt, tattoo,
and paint. Graffiti was my art school. I owe a
lot to my crews, these guys were on the frontline
during the onslaught of aerosol artwork which I
was blessed to take part in.
WHICH PERIOD IN ART HISTORY AND WHICH
ARTISTS INSPIRE YOU THE MOST?
I take something from all periods. My tastes
are inspired by classical paintings and wood
etchings right now. Not too long ago it was
abstract, surrealism, special effects creatures...
it seems that whatever I give the most attention
to eventually changes. As far as influences,
I could go on and on, but the ones that
immediately come to mind are Caravaggio,
Rembrandt, Ferdinand Bol, Peter Paul Rubens,
John Singer Sargent, Odd Nerdrum, Jan Van Eyck,
Adrian Van der Vert, Jean Leon Gerome...More
modern artists include Zdzislaw Beksinski, De
Es Shwertberger, Chet Zar, Nick Baxter, Shawn
Barber, The Quay Brothers, Steve Wang, Jordu
Schell... I could keep going, but as you can see,
I jump all over the place.
WHERE DID YOU LEARN THE TECHNIQUE FOR
DRAWING AND PAINTING?
Studying, applying, studying, applying, studying,
applying. There is absolutely no substitute for
hard work.
YOU BEGAN TO TATTOO IN 1999...HOW DID YOU
GET STARTED?
I studied at a shop that’s no longer around, in
Glendale (Arizona), from a man I’ll just refer to
as Don G. (I’m not sure if he still tattoos, but
last I heard, he’s back at it. I hope so). I was
schooled about basic traditional tattooing by
Jay Zuccala and learned about more rendered
stuff by a guy named Jason Foglesong. After a
few other shops, none of which are no longer
around, I ended up at Phoenix Tattoo Company
in 2004, I believe. This is where I really got
my start; before then it was just trial and
error. Eric, Marko, and Tony were all artists who
were hungry to learn, and they made a really
potent learning environment for another young
and hungry artist.
HOW HAS YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH TATTOO ART
INFLUENCED YOUR PAINTING, AND VICE-VERSA?
I have yet to figure out what part of my
painting techniques should be used for my
tattooing, and which ones shouldn’t. I think
the biggest influence my painting has on my
tattoos is lighting. Anyone who’s familiar with
my tattoo theories knows that for me, it’s all
about the lighting. It has to stay consistent, or
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the illusion of dimension is lost. Other than that, I try to make
a tattoo be just that: a tattoo. I think that a tattoo shouldn’t
be a painting on the skin. Tattooing has fundamental rules
that need to be respected. As an artist wiser than me once
said: “you wouldn’t try to build a house without a foundation
and frame”.
WHERE ARE YOU CURRENTLY LIVING AND WORKING?
Why, do you have a place where I can crash? (laughter) I was
in Los Angeles, but I’m currently nomadic, and keeping an eye
open for the next place that will inspire and feed my need to
be creative and inspire. I might be in your town soon, who
knows...
WHAT PROJECTS DO YOU HAVE FOR THE FUTURE? WHAT ARE YOU
FOCUSING ON THE MOST?
I have an idea for my next series, where the images are like
anatomical charts illustrating the dynamic nature of the
human vehicle, and how that vehicle is a perfect and visceral
tool for communication and interaction. I could go into it
further, but I like surprises. For now, my main focus will be to
become a better tattooer, as I study, learn, and apply what I
feel is great tattooing. I hope that one day I’ll be able to bring
something new to the table, just like many tattoo pioneers
have done. Tattooing is the most important medium I’m
working with right now. I take it very, very seriously, and even
though I am very carefree, I most definitely try to put every
bit of energy that I can into every tattoo I make. I just want to
constantly improve. I want to look at the tattoos I’ve made
and smile, knowing the client is happy. And if they were
awesome enough to let me make a design of my own
on them, then I’m very lucky. Tattooing is very rewarding
when its traditions are respected. But this requires discipline.
For me, that’s ok…it’s worth it.
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WWW.VIVALASVEGAS.NET
CONVENTIONPHOTOS BY SUSANA VICTORIA VESTIGEPHOTOGRAPHY.COMASSISTED BY VERA LYNN SINNER AND KADDIE O’ KEEFETEXT BY SINNER, O’KEEFE AND VICTORIA
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CONVENTION
Tom Ingram is the
mastermind behind
this event, and has
promoted Rockabilly
events for over 20
years in the US and
UK. He started off
as a Rockabilly DJ in
London, and ran the
top Rockabilly clubs of
the city. His radio shows included BBC Radio
One, and he also worked on a station that
aired in 28 countries across Europe. Currently
hailing from Long Beach, Ingram is continuing
his career in acting and producing television
shows and feature films. He is also a tattoo
aficionado, as can be seen by his beautiful
back piece done by Opie Ortiz.
Viva Las Vegas takes place at the Orleans
Hotel and Casino, and attendees were able to
explore several areas that offered everything
from collectables to dance lessons. Indoor
vendor areas were bustling with eager buyers
interested in apparel and accessories from
the 1940s and 50s. Musical acts performed
in six different venues inside of the casino,
while poolside parties with live performances
and swimsuit contests each day were an
afternoon delight. Downloading the smart
phone app for the weekend helped people
with their scheduling, so if you wanted to
“VIVA LAS VEGAS” IS A PHRASE THAT BRINGS
MANY THINGS TO MIND - EXCITEMENT, VICE, NEW
EXPERIENCES. APPROPRIATELY ENOUGH, EACH OF THE
16 VIVA LAS VEGAS ROCKABILLY WEEKEND EVENTS
PROMISES JUST THAT. WHETHER ENTHUSIASTS ATTEND
BECAUSE THEY LOVE ROCKABILLY CULTURE, CLASSIC
CARS, PIN UP GIRLS, OR, MOST RECENTLY, TATTOOING,
THIS EVENT PROMISES TO DELIVER. INDULGENCE IN
DECADENT PERFORMANCES BY WORLDWIDE BURLESQUE DANCERS AND TIKI
COCKTAILS ARE JUST A COUPLE OF REASONS WHY VIVA IS THE PLACE TO BE
ON EASTER WEEKEND.
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go to an event or watch a band, it would be
added to your calendar with a reminder so
you wouldn’t miss out.
Attendees included all the famous names in pin
up, such as Sabina Kelley and Cherry Dollface.
Tons of bands and DJs played all weekend,
including the Rockats, Lee Dresser and the Krazy
Kats, Dixie Leadfoot and The Chrome Struts,
Nikki Hill, and the Moonlight Trio - just to name
a few. There’s simply not enough space to
mention all the talented folks who participated.
Headliners at the car show were Dick Dale,
the King of Surf Guitar, and Little Richard, the
godfather of Rock n Roll, known for hits such
as Tutti Frutti and Good Golly Miss Molly. The
Bustout Burlesque show, with music by one of
the most popular New Orleans jazz bands, the
Sideshow MC Dr.Sic, livened up Friday evening
with its hot atmosphere.
This year Viva Las Vegas set up its first
annual Sailor Jerry Tattoo Lounge hosted by
Steadfast tattoo parlor. Located right by the
bowling alley inside the casino, with less
floor space than in most other conventions,
the lounge was still bubbling with plenty of
energy. And finally, equipped with VLV-themed
flash, artists were busy tattooing visitors
eager to commemorate the event. Hawaiian
artists from Loyalty Tattoo, Bruno Corso,
Chronic Gypsy Tattoo, Goodfellas, Alla Prima,
Kong, Mike Fite, and Breksa from Alchemy
Tattoo were just some of the tattooists who
have participated since Viva’s first tattoo
show, which means this will certainly not be
the last. Make your appointment sooner than
later for VLV 2014!
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Opie
Ort
iz, Seal Beach
, USA
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Atomic Tattoo Ink colours are made using cutting edge formulas, perhaps the most advanced in the world of Professional Tattooing.
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www.atomictattooink.com | info@atomictattooink.comRESELLER WELCOME!WorldMags.netWorldMags.net
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TEXT BY SIMONE SACCOPHOTOS BY CHRISTIAN SAINT
Ink fever& bad girl attitude? Oh love!
Ink fever& bad girl attitude? Oh love!32
SHE LOVES THE TANK GIRL COMICS - A TRUE FEMINISM-
PUNK ICON FROM THE 90s - AND THIS ALONE IS ENOUGH
TO MAKE US HER FANS. THEN SHE’S GOT VERY SPECIAL
TASTE FOR EVERYTHING REGARDING TATTOOS (STARTING
WITH THOMAS HOOPER) AND LISTENS TO EXCELLENT
MUSIC ALONG THE LINES OF BARONESS, WITCH AND
MOTORPSYCHO. LET’S FACE IT, HATTIE WATSON HAS GOT
LOADS OF PERSONALITY AND HAS FLAUNTED HER HEAVILY
TATTOOED SKIN IN GREEN DAY VIDEOS AND ON THE PAGES
OF TATTOO LIFE…WHAT A KNOCKOUT!S
O, LET’S START
WITH BASIC
INFORMATION
ABOUT YOU AND
TATTOO ART IN
GENERAL...
Well, I got into
tattoo culture
when I was in
my early 20’s,
and I haven’t stopped since. If you
ask me what my favorite styles are,
I think I’d say that I prefer more
traditional pieces right now, but I
also love dear, old Japanese and
stipple work like what Thomas Hooper
creates.
I THINK YOUR MOST INTERESTING
TATTOOS ARE THE HEART, WHICH IS
ON THE UPPER AREA OF YOUR CHEST,
ALONG WITH ITS COUNTERPART, THE
COFFIN (!!!) WHICH IS ENTANGLED IN
SPIDER WEBS, AND THE CANDLE WHICH
IS SLOWLY MELTING ON THE
LOWER PART OF YOUR TUMMY. I
WAS WONDERING IF THESE HAVE
ANY SPECIAL MEANINGS…
There are no real meanings. I
was obsessed with Halloween
for a while and still love it,
but I’ve just grown into a
different kind of person now.
LET’S TALK A MINUTE ABOUT
WHO YOU USED TO BE. ARE THE
DOLL, CUPCAKES AND LOLLYPOP
WHICH YOU HAD TATTOOED
ON YOUR LEFT LEG PERHAPS A
TRIBUTE TO YOUR CHILDHOOD?
I suppose a little bit, yes.
To be honest, I’d wanted a
sweets arm for years, but
I think it just spun out of
control and it is what it is,
now… (smiles)
ON THE SAME ARM YOU HAVE
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Ink fever& bad girl attitude? Oh love! COVER GIRL
FACEBOOK: OFFICIALHATTIEWATSONTWITTER: HATTIE_WATSON
TUMBLR: HATTIEWATSON
Inkfe
ver
&bad
girl
ttitu
de?
O!
33
A FUNNY ASTRONAUT, COMPLETE
WITH A LASER GUN…
It’s actually a fictional subject
that was created by CandyKiller
aka Brian Taylor (you can find
other examples here: www.
candykiller.com, Ed). I really love
his work and thought that little
guy was cute.
LET’S KEEP TALKING ABOUT FANTASY
CHARACTERS: WHAT ABOUT THAT
TANK GIRL TATTOO ON THE UPPER
PART OF YOUR LEFT ARM? IS IT A KIND
OF ICON FOR YOU?
Yeah, she’s always been a favorite
comic book character of mine and a
huge inspiration because she’s such
a badass woman. That’s why I chose
this tattoo – who else, but her?
AND YOUR SKIN’S TRIBUTE TO THE TANK
GIRL WORLD CONTINUES JUST A FEW
CENTIMETERS AWAY…
Yes, just below the Tank Girl portrait
there’s a Tank Girl tank taken straight
out of one of her latest adventures.
WHAT HAVE YOU GOT TATTOOED ON YOUR FEET?
There are two dead sparrows. Actually, I
would love to get them faded so I can get
something else...
ARE THERE ANY OTHER INK PROJECTS IN
STORE FOR THE FUTURE?
Well, I would like working some more
on my left arm and then my right leg,
but I don’t have any new ideas for tattoo
subjects yet.
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Ink& bad gattitudeOh love!COVER GIRL
Ink fev& bad gttitudOh love34
WHO ARE YOUR FAVORITE TATTOO ARTISTS? YOU
MENTIONED THOMAS HOOPER BEFORE…
Hooper for sure, but I have to mention Darcy
Nutt, Emily Rose Murray and Kris Roberts, too!
I KNOW THAT YOU PARTICIPATED IN THE SHOOTING
OF GREEN DAY’S LATEST VIDEO CLIP CALLED ‘OH
LOVE’... HOW DID THAT GO?
It was interesting, but it wasn’t what I expected.
Green Day are cool, but right now my favorite
musicians are Magnolia Electric Co. (whose leader,
Jason Molina, tragically passed away last March. R.I.P.,
Ed), Motorpsycho, Baroness, Witch, and… Neil Young!
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TATTOO ARTIST
BY MIKI VIALETTO
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ROYAL TATTOO I L TVEDES VEJ 3
3000 HELSINGØR, DENMARKPH: 4920 – 2770
WWW.ROYALTATTOO.COM
TATTOO ARTIST
THIRTY YEARS OF HARD WORK IS NOT A FEAT THAT EVERYONE CAN PULL OFF. AND
EVEN FEWER FOLKS ARE ABLE TO REACH THE LEVEL HENNING JØRGENSEN HAS.
WITH UNDISPUTED ARTISTIC TALENT AND AN UNMISTAKABLE TECHNIQUE THANKS
TO HIS CLEAR AND PRECISE STYLE, JØRGENSEN WAS ONE OF THE FIRST TATTOOISTS
TO INTERPRET ORIENTAL STYLE IN A EUROPEAN WAY. HE BECAME A MODEL FOR
AN ENTIRE GENERATION OF TATTOOISTS WHO VENTURED INTO THIS ART FORM IN
THE 80S AND BEYOND AND CHOSE HIM AS THEIR BENCHMARK FOR REVISITING
THE ORIENTAL STYLE. IN SEPTEMBER THERE WILL BE A CELEBRATION FOR ROYAL
TATTOO’S THIRTIETH ANNIVERSARY, IN HELSINGØR, THE DANISH CITY WHICH HAS
BECOME A KIND OF MECCA FOR TATTOOISTS HAILING FROM ALL OVER THE GLOBE.
HI HENNING, I HEARD
THERE WILL BE A BIG
PARTY IN YOUR HONOR
COMING UP SOON...
RIGHT?
I am really fortunate
because I’ve managed
to keep my Royal
Tattoo Studio open
for 30 years, and so
yes, on September 20th we will celebrate its
thirtieth anniversary.
WOW, WHICH OF YOUR CLOSEST FRIENDS AND
COLLEAGUES WILL BE THERE?
First off, all the artists who have worked
at Royal Tattoo - about 90-100 tattooists –
will come; they’ve been invited to create a
painting for this occasion. My idea is
to organize a show where all their works
can be exhibited and in this way go back
in time over the past thirty years, with the
help of photographs and paintings. Then
I’d like to publish a catalogue with this
collection of work. We expect about 500
people to come: a mix of friends, colleagues,
family and clients. This is the third time that
I’m celebrating the studio’s anniversary and
I know that many friends from all over the
world will be happy to come. That’s why I
decided to do it on a date which is close to
the London Tattoo Convention, so that anyone
coming from very far away can participate in
both events with just one trip. And I’d also like
to take this opportunity to remind everyone
that on the Thursday before the convention,
the tenth anniversary celebration for Mo
Coppoletta’s studio, Family Business, will
be held in London.
THEN SEPTEMBER WILL BE A VERY BUSY MONTH FOR
TATTOO FANS EVERYWHERE! IT’S STRANGE TO SAY,
BUT IN A WORLD WHERE THINGS ARE IN CONSTANT
EVOLUTION, IT’S HARD TO FIND TATTOOISTS WHO
WANT TO CHANGE THEIR JOB. I HAVE TO SAY THAT
WITH THIRTY YEARS OF WORK UNDER YOUR BELT,
YOU ARE A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF THIS!
Yeah, I admit that I’ve never wanted to do
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anything else, for me this job is the dream of
a lifetime and if I had to choose all over again,
there would be no doubts: tattooing, forever!
It’s my life and my passion. I live tattooing,
I love tattooing. Every day I think about how
fortunate I’ve been to be able to do this work.
Having said that, I must add that this is a very
hard job that requires long hours, leaving
little time for family and friends outside of
the tattoo world. I can’t believe that 30 years
have already gone by, I still feel like a kid who
wants to learn, discover something new, and
I’m still very curious and want to do my best.
I am still honored by the fact that clients trust
me to work on their own skin.
LET’S GO BACK THIRTY YEARS IN TIME. WHAT WERE
YOU LIKE, AND WHERE DID YOU LIVE?
Thirty years ago I was a guy working as an
apprentice in Amsterdam’s red light district.
I worked there for four years, and then I had
the luck to work with dear old Ole Hansen
at Nyhavn 17 in Copenhagen. Working with
him was like starting from scratch - he was
a strict teacher and I learned a lot. After
that, in order to be respectful of the tattoo
shops that already existed in Copenhagen,
we chose Helsingor to open our new studio,
because it was far enough away from the
others…in fact, we received their blessings.
Helsingor is a small city very close to
Sweden, and at the time we opened it wasn’t
easy to find a tattoo shop there. So my
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hope was to gain a lot of Swedish clients,
and that’s what actually happened. I was
working so hard and wanted to do it in a way
that was different from how tattooing was
done at that time. Mike Malone had told me
about how Ed Hardy worked, doing custom
tattoos and preparing personalized work for
his clients. Before that, clients would pick
one of the designs they’d find attached to
the tattoo shop’s walls. So I started to do
custom tattoos as well, because I’ve always
been very ambitious and I’ve always wanted
to give it my all, and I still think like this
today. I know I can always improve and learn
something new.
WHAT STEPS WERE THE MOST IMPORTANT ONES
ALONG YOUR PATH AS A TATTOO ARTIST?
My undying passion for art, travelling
throughout the world – which helped me
discover so many interesting things – and
all the people I’ve met and with whom I’ve
worked. My curiosity, the fact that I am
surrounded by so many talented artists, and
my consistency in trying to improve myself…
I believe that all of these things put
together have been significant steps
along my artistic path.
It’s difficult to say what I’ve actually achieved
over all these years, without seeming vain;
however, I am very proud of the fact that I
was able to keep my shop going for all these
years, offering top quality work – now more
than ever. Clients from all over the world
come to get tattooed; this was the dream
I had when I decided to open in Helsingor,
30 years ago. I’ve made so many friends in
the tattoo world and for me this is the most
important thing. Long-lasting friendships
are the greatest benefit I’ve received over
all these years.
TODAY, WHAT HAVE YOU ACCOMPLISHED, AND HOW
HAVE YOU CHANGED?
Have I changed? I don’t know…I feel like I’m
still myself! I still have the same passion
for tattooing and for my friends, I would still
like to grow as an artist, I always want to do
my best, I still like talking with my clients,
travelling, meeting people, so...I don’t think
I’ve changed at a personal level. But I do
hope I’ve changed professionally.
WHAT SUBJECTS DO YOU LOVE THE MOST?
I love all the oriental tattoo subjects, but
my favorite image is the dragon, because
it’s powerful and magical; its shape is a
unique one for tattoos, it adapts well to
the body, perfectly. The dragon is also a
universal subject, and when it is mixed with
elements like water and wind, it becomes
very dynamic.
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TATTOO ARTIST
WHICH JAPANESE LEGEND OR MYTH DO
YOU PREFER?
There are so many interesting
ones! It’s difficult to say…Taira
no Tomomori is still one of my
favorites: a general chained himself
to an anchor and threw himself into
the ocean, and then was followed
by all of his men, who died with
him. It’s said that their spirits then
hunted down their enemies. In
that region of Japan, crabs have
marks on their shells which look
like human faces. The legend says
that those marks are the spirits of
the defeated general and his men.
I also like the myth of Shoki, the
demon tamer; it makes for a great
story and gives lots of possibilities
for creating a beautiful image.
IS IT TRUE THAT YOU’VE ALWAYS BEEN A
TRAVELER? WHERE DO YOU LOVE TO VISIT?
Yes, it’s very true, I travel all the
time, I like to go anywhere, and it’s
always exciting to visit new places.
It energizes me to talk to people and
try living the way they do, wherever
I go. I love New York and California.
For private vacations with my family,
the prize goes to Sardinia, Italy’s
lovely island. It’s one of the places
that I’d consider for my retirement,
when the time comes…
DO YOU THINK THAT HAVING YOUR OWN STUDIO HAS
GIVEN YOU A SAFE HAVEN, OR HAS IT EVER LIMITED
YOU IN SOME WAY FROM CHOOSING CERTAIN
PROJECTS THAT WERE APPEALING?
Having my own studio obviously has limited
me in choosing other projects. Once you’ve
decided to open a studio, you have to take
care of it and you can’t leave it to anyone else,
it’s your responsibility and yours alone, and
you should never expect that other people
can take care of it with the same enthusiasm
as your own. As I’ve already said and will say
again, I am fortunate to have always had the
best teams; this makes it possible for me to
travel, because everyone is very responsible.
LET’S TALK ABOUT THE HENNING WHO ISN’T A TATTOO
ARTIST. WHAT ARE YOUR DEEPEST PASSIONS AND
YOUR LATEST CURIOSITIES?
Last year I started to go horseback riding with
my daughters. Last year we went horseback
riding in Sardinia for 5 days; we were
immersed in such wonderful and wild nature,
riding on beautiful horses. This experience
helped bring out my cowboy spirit – fantastic!
I’ve always tried to stay fit, and last year I
really became serious about serious exercise.
It’s like a drug, it makes me happy. Outside of
the tattoo scene, I enjoy life with good food,
dear friends and I love being with my family.
WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED AS YOU’VE WORKED
ALONGSIDE GREAT TATTOOISTS LIKE PAUL JEFFRIES,
TREVOR MCSTAY AND MIKE RUBENDALL, AND HOW
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HAVE THOSE EXPERIENCES ENRICHED YOUR LIFE
BOTH CULTURALLY AND ARTISTICALLY?
At the end of the 80s, I began to work with
Paul Jeffries and that was an incredible
opportunity for me; Paul really opened my
eyes, I owe him so much! It was a wonderful
experience for me to see how he worked and
how he created his fantastic body suits. My
visits with Paul completely changed my way
of managing my shop and the way I work. I
met Trevor Mc Stay in the 80s. We were very
similar and shared the same passions, and
even though we lived on opposite sides of the
world, we shared the same cause. We still
stay close in touch and I consider him a great
friend. Mike Rubendall came to my shop to
do a guest spot when he was still very young.
I followed his brilliant career and he became
a dear friend and colleague of mine. Being
around this young and passionate person gave
me new energy and he was a great source of
inspiration for the entire time he was here.
WHO’S WORKING AT ROYAL TATTOO NOW?
At the moment at Royal Tattoo I am
honored by the presence of Danny Chan,
Lobinho, Ron Koupal, Stef Bastian, and
Theo Maurin as the permanent team, and
regular guests like Beppe Shiro, Delia
Vico, Emma Kierzek, Kai Sobierayski,
Imma, Marco Serio, Mike Rubendall,
and Stuart Archibal. There are many
other tattooists who come at least once
a year. We have been so lucky to have
such important artists - who are also
wonderful people - come to work with
us. And this is why I want to do the
show which will open for our thirtieth
anniversary – to present all these
people’s work.
IN CLOSING, IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU’D
LIKE TO SHARE WITH US, BEFORE WE MEET
AGAIN IN SEPTEMBER?
I am very grateful for the support I’ve
received throughout all these years. A few
years ago I was going through a bad period
and I was able to really feel the affection
and presence of so many people who were
there to help me. This really struck me,
and I won’t ever forget it. And finally, to all
my clients I would like to say: thank you,
truly, for entrusting your skin to me.
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43WorldMags.netWorldMags.net
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27-28-29th
46
ANOTHER YEAR HAS ROLLED BY AND ONCE AGAIN OVER 300 TATTOO
ARTISTS – THE BEST IN THE WORLD - HAVE MADE A DATE TO GO TO THE
BRIGHT, VICTORIAN TOBACCO DOCK IN LONDON. FOR TATTOO COLLECTORS,
THE LONDON CONVENTION IS AN OPPORTUNITY NOT TO BE MISSED; IT’S
THE NUMBER ONE EVENT IN EUROPE FOR TRUE FANS OF BODY ART.
THE STAGE IS SET FOR A BUSY BUZZ OF TATTOOISTS HARD AT WORK AT
CREATING SPLENDID TATTOOS IN ALL STYLES, ALONG WITH UNFORGETTABLE
AND CAREFULLY HAND-PICKED PERFORMANCES, SHOWS AND CONTESTS.
EVERYONE WANTS TO BE THERE. THIS IS THE ONLY PLACE WHERE YOU
CAN MEET CURIOUS AND INTERESTING PEOPLE AT EVERY STEP, JOKE WITH
WORLD-FAMOUS TATTOO ARTISTS, AND ADMIRE LOVELY WOMEN WHO SHOW OFF THEIR TALENTS
IN DANCES AND ACROBATICS THAT WILL TAKE YOUR BREATH AWAY: THERE’S JANET FISCHIETTO’S
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PREVIEW LONDON
© Jose
fine Jonss
on
BURLESQUE CIRCUS, THE INSPIRED STRIP-TEASE OF ALTERNATIVE
MODEL CERVENA FOX WITH HER UNMISTAKABLE FLAMBOYANT
HEAD OF HAIR, ELEGY ELLEM’S SEXY PERFORMANCES, A POLE
DANCE SHOW COMPLETE WITH FIRE AND SWORDS OFFERED BY
THE DARING FUEL GIRLS, AND FINALLY THE NERDY STRIPPER
SHOW – THE NAME SAYS EVERYTHING! – WHERE NERDS GET THEIR
SEXY REVENGE. YOU WILL ALSO BE ABLE TO GET AN UP-CLOSE
LOOK AT OUR 2014 CALENDAR GIRL, AND ASK FOR HER
AUTOGRAPH AT OUR TATTOO LIFE STAND. FEMALE BEAUTY
WILL ALSO BE CELEBRATED DURING THE PIN-UP
CONTEST, WHICH WILL CROWN THE MISS PIN UP
UK BEAUTY QUEEN DURING THESE THREE DAYS
OF THE CONVENTION. BUT THE CONTEST
WHICH IS MOST HIGHLY ANTICIPATED
BY CONVENTION PARTICIPANTS,
ORGANIZERS, AND TATTOO
ARTISTS IS –
WITHOUT A
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DOUBT – THE ONE THAT AWARDS THE BEST TATTOOS MADE DURING THE CONVENTION.
THIS CONTEST, WHICH ENDS THE CONVENTION, TAKES PLACE AMIDST THE FLASH OF
PHOTOGRAPHERS, WHILE TATTOO FANS SWEAT IT OUT UNDER THE REFLECTORS AS
THEY DISPLAY ON THEIR SKIN THE FINEST WORK OF TATTOO ARTISTS PRESENT AT THE
CONVENTION. DON’T MISS ANY OF THE 26 ROOMS AND SPECIAL AREAS DEDICATED TO
ART SHOWS, WHERE YOU’LL DISCOVER FRANCO VESCOVI’S CROSSES, ALBUM COVERS
WHICH HAVE GONE DOWN IN HISTORY AND ARE NOW REINTERPRETED BY TATTOOISTS
IN THE SHOW BY ALL MEANS NECESSARY, AND THE APPEARANCE OF JONDIX, WHOSE
CREATIONS REVEAL HIS EXPLORATION OF A DEEP SPIRITUALITY AND SOME ASPECTS OF
BUDDHIST MYSTICISM. WELCOME BACK TO THE LONDON TATTOO CONVENTION - THE
ONE AND ONLY...THE SHOW IS ABOUT TO BEGIN!
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Official European Distributor for &
Contact us if you would like to become a distributor for these products: sales@barberdts.co.uk
FOR ALL YOUR TATTOO AND PIERCING SUPPLIES CONTACT:
UK FRANCE SPAIN EUROPE
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TEXT BY SIMONE SACCOPHOTOS BY CHRISTIAN SAINT
FACEBOOK: CLEODESIREEWATTENSTROMFACEBOOK: CLEO.WATTENSTROM
CALENDAR GIRL
CERTAINLY THIS BREATHTAKING MODEL WILL KEEP YOU
COMPANY DURING EVERY EXCITING MONTH OF 2014,
BUT MORE THAN THAT, CLEO WATTENSTRÖM IS A VERY
DEDICATED TATTOO ARTIST AT LIFESTYLE TATTOO IN
STOCKHOLM. IN A NUTSHELL, THIS IS WHO THE HEAVILY
TATTOOED CLEO REALLY IS: A DETERMINED WOMAN
WHO HAS DILIGENTLY FOLLOWED OUR PREFERRED
“CULTURE” EVER SINCE SHE WAS A TEENAGER. HER
AMBER-BROWN SKIN DISPLAYS SUBJECTS THAT RANGE
FROM FOO FIGHTERS TO THE BIG HORROR CLASSICS
OF CINEMA’S GOLDEN AGE, ALONG WITH EXOTIC
ANIMALS AND TWO SIMPLE LITTLE LETTERS WHICH
SUMMARIZE HER OVERALL PHILOSOPHY:
LT, OR “LIFESTYLE TATTOO”…
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THE FIRST THING I’D
LIKE TO FOCUS ON
IS THAT, DESPITE
YOUR LOVELY
APPEARANCE, YOU
ARE NOT A PROPER
MODEL BUT A 100%
PROFESSIONAL
TATTOO ARTIST: AM
I RIGHT?
Yeah, you are
absolutely right!
SO, HOW DID IT FEEL TO TRANSFORM
YOURSELF INTO A TATTOO ENERGY
“CALENDAR GIRL”?
I’m not sure! (laughs) You know, I haven’t
seen the calendar yet, but I like this big
feeling of anticipation as I wait to see it…
OK, LET’S CONCENTRATE ON MATTERS
RELATED TO THE PAST: WHEN DID YOUR DEEP
“RELATIONSHIP” WITH TATTOO ART OFFICIALLY
BEGIN?
I would say maybe around the age of 13-14,
when I decided to pursue my passion for
tattoo art.
AND NOW YOUR BODY IS PROUDLY AND
HEAVILY INKED WITH BLACK & GREY AND
COLORED TATTOOS. TELL ME THE TRUTH:
WHEN YOU LOOK AT YOURSELF IN THE
MIRROR, DO YOU SEE A KIND OF “LABOR OF
LOVE” FOR THE TATTOO COMMUNITY?
I’m not sure I see it in any specific way,
because I never planned to be heavily
tattooed, it just turned out that way!
(smiles). If anything, I see it as a collection
of memories from this lifetime.
LIKE THE PORTRAIT DISPLAYED ON YOUR
RIGHT HAND?
Oh, that’s a true classic! It is
Frankenstein’s Bride and it pairs with the
Monster tattoo on my left hand.
I KNOW THAT YOUR VERY FIRST TATTOO WAS
A SENTENCE COMING FROM RASTAFARIAN
CULTURE: ‘BABYLON GOING DOWN’. ARE YOU
STILL INTO REGGAE MUSIC?
It was just a phase in my life. I like reggae
music, but not more than many other
genres.
YEAH, IN FACT YOU HAVE SOME LETTERING
ALONG YOUR HIPS WHICH READ: “RUN AND
TELL ALL OF THE ANGELS/ THIS COULD TAKE
ALL NIGHT/ THINK I NEED A DEVIL TO HELP
ME/ GET THINGS RIGHT”…
Yeah, it’s a text pulled from a very cool
Foo Fighters song! (It’s taken from a tune
called Learn to Fly from Dave Grohl’s
album entitled There Is Nothing Left To
Lose which was released in ’99, Ed.)
WHEN YOU ARE TATTOOING SOMEBODY AT
LIFESTYLE TATTOO, DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE
SOUNDTRACK?
It really depends on my mood, so I don’t
have just one favorite track.
LET’S CHANGE THE SUBJECT: WHO TATTOOED
THAT BIG AND AMAZING BACK PIECE FEATURING
AN ORIENTAL TIGER?
Andreas Blanco, my talented colleague who
also works at Lifestyle!
DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER FAVORITE TATTOO
ARTISTS BESIDES ANDREAS?
Tattooing has become very popular during
the last few years, so there are so many
talented tattooists. I don’t have one favorite
in general, but I follow Jeff Gogue and Shige’s
work a lot.
WHAT DOES THAT LITTLE TATTOO NEAR YOUR
EYE MEAN?
Those are the initials of the shop where
I work, LT as in “Lifestyle Tattoo”. It’s the
most exciting place to visit in Stockholm, of
course! (laughs)
OK, MY LAST QUESTION: DO YOU PLAN TO GET
ANY MORE TATTOOS?
Well, I still have some other empty spots
on my body. I’m going to tattoo my feet for
sure, but at the moment I’m working on…
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BOOK
DON ED HARDY
THIRTY YEARS AGO, IN THE FALL OF 1982 TO BE PRECISE, THE FIRST ISSUE
OF THE LEGENDARY MAGAZINE TATTOOTIME WAS PUBLISHED, CAUSING
UNEXPECTED WAVES IN THE TATTOO SCENE. THE SERIES OF FIVE ISSUES
PUBLISHED BETWEEN 1982 AND 1991 HAS BEEN OUT OF PRINT FOR
QUITE A WHILE NOW. BUT LAST YEAR DOUG HARDY, ED’S SON, KNEW
INSTINCTIVELY THAT IT WOULD BE WORTHWHILE TO REPRINT THOSE FIVE
MEMORABLE ISSUES.
So it was thanks to his inspiration that this two-
volume book emerged, in which the first original
editions of each issue – which by now are
unobtainable - were reprinted without the
changes and modifications that had been
made to later editions.
Don Ed Hardy has written the introduction to
the book, and the table of contents was lovingly
prepared, many years ago, by the gypsy tattooist
Eric the Red. The first issue, New Tribalism, gave
life to a brand new style which became a trend and inspired tattoo artists
and tattoo fans the world over. After that, four more monographic issues
were released which explored the most popular subjects in tattoo art:
Tattoo Magic, issued in 1984, Music & Sea Tattoos (1985) Life & Death
Tattoos (1987) and finally, Art from the Heart (1991). There are interviews,
photographs, flash and illustrations, and numerous articles dedicated
to the most recurring subjects, mysterious symbols, techniques and the
history of tattoo art. The end result is a small and precious encyclopedia,
a source of knowledge and deeper understanding for everyone. It also
takes an enthusiastic look at tattoo art and represents an editorial product
which – now as in the past – aims to spread a culture which deserves
respect, as it reveals stories and contexts which have often been ignored.
All of this thanks to Ed Hardy, of course, his wife Francesca Passalacqua,
and contributions from the most important artists in the tattoo world who
so generously offered to share their knowledge. Surprisingly topical, these
five issues of Tattootime swing pleasantly from scholarship to pop, guiding
readers through the facts and ideas of a world which is both ancient and
modern at the same time.
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DON ED HARDY - TATTOOTIME352 FULL COLOUR PAGES, HARDCOVER
PUBLISHER: HARDY MARKS PUBLICATIONS, (SAN FRANCISCO) 53WorldMags.netWorldMags.net
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55
Ath
ena, Various
Art
ists
Dave S
hull, Dam
on H
ack
er
& L
eon N
ovic
ke,
New
Culture
Tatt
oo C
o, Denver, U
SA
Ray M
ichals
ki, S
nake &
Dagger, F
lint, U
SA
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CONVENTION PHOTOS BY RICHARD TODDBeto
Munoz,
Ris
ing P
hoenix
, Addis
on, USA
56
LAST WINTER IT WAS PARTY-TIME AT THE
HOTEL MARRIOTT – RENAISSANCE CENTER,
IN DOWNTOWN DETROIT. THE 18TH BIRTHDAY
OF DETROIT’S HISTORICAL CONVENTION WAS
CELEBRATED AMIDST THE DRONE OF TATTOO
MACHINES AND RIVERS OF INK. AND THIS
ANNIVERSARY WASN’T TO BE MISSED BY THE BIG NAMES
IN THE TATTOO WORLD! THOSE PRESENT INCLUDED:
JACK RUDY, BOB TYRRELL, TONY CIAVARRO, BIG GUS,
MIKE DEMASI, PAUL ACKER, NICK COLELLA AND ABOUT
A HUNDRED OTHER AMERICAN ARTISTS WHO CHOSE
DETROIT TO BETTER DISPLAY THEIR SKIN ART TALENTS.
PARTICIPATION WAS HIGH FOR A VARIETY OF TATTOO
CONTESTS (SOME INTERESTING CONTESTS INCLUDED THE
MOST UNUSUAL AND THE MOST PATRIOTIC, NEXT TO
CLASSIC ONES LIKE THE BEST BLACK AND GREY, TRIBAL,
TRADITIONAL, REALISTIC, COLOR, ETC…).
AND WE WERE THERE, IN CHILLY DETROIT, TO CAPTURE
THE BEST WORK DONE AT THIS CONVENTION AND
TO SHOW YOU WHAT PEOPLE WERE DISPLAYING ON
THEIR SKIN. THIS IMPORTANT AMERICAN DATE ALLOWS
TATTOOISTS TO EXPOSE THEIR WORK TO A CLIENTELE OF
TRUE TATTOO FANS. ENJOY THE PICS.
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Ste
ve S
oto
, Goodfe
llas,
Ora
nge, CA &
Hand: Ryan M
ullin
s, Art
Junkie
s, H
esp
eria, USA
Nic
k B
axt
er, P
rivate
Stu
dio
, Aust
in, USA
Johnny Q
uin
tana, In
k S
hop T
att
oo, Arc
adia
, USA
Nic
k S
elley,
Aci
d W
ork
s Ta
ttoo, M
t M
orr
is, USA
57WorldMags.netWorldMags.net
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Abey A
lvare
z, 3
Foot
Radiu
s, U
pla
nd, USA
Chris
Bie
rlein
, Scr
eam
ing N
eedle
, Allendale
, USA
MadM
ax
Beers
, Ragin
g T
iger, K
ala
mazo
o, USA
58
Abey A
lvare
z, 3
foot, R
adiu
s Ta
ttoo, USA
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Rem
ber
Ore
llana, Rebel M
use
, Le
wis
ville
, USA
Vin
ce V
illa
lvazo
, M
yst
ic O
wl Ta
ttoo, M
ariett
a, USA
Johnny Q
uin
tana, In
k S
hop T
att
oo, Arc
adia
, USA
????
????
????
????
????
?
B, In
kShop, Arc
adia
, USA
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TATTOO ARTIST
BY STEFANIA PEROSIN
DOMANTAS PARVAINISFACEBOOK: DOMANTAS.PARVAINISFACEBOOK: TOTEMAS TATTOOINSTAGRAM: DOMANTASPARVAINISE-MAIL: DOMANTAS.PARVAINIS@GMAIL.COM
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TATTOO ARTISTVERY YOUNG, FULL OF TALENT, GRATEFUL, HUMBLE AND YET AMBITIOUS AT THE
SAME TIME. DOMANTAS LOVES DRAWING AND DISCOVERING THE HIDDEN DETAILS
IN IMAGES, AND HAS A PASSION FOR SKATEBOARDING. BUT FIRST AND FOREMOST,
HE’S AN EXCELLENT TATTOOIST, WITH PLENTY OF PROJECTS UP HIS SLEEVE. HE
MAY NOT KNOW IT YET, BUT HE ALREADY STANDS OUT FROM THE CROWD.
SO TELL US…WHO IS
DOMANTAS PARVAINIS?
I’m a 24-year old
guy living in Šiauliai,
Lithuania. I do the same
stuff every day, just
like everybody else. But
recently, while I was
doing the same old stuff,
I got into tattooing and
that’s why I’m doing this interview now.
WHEN AND HOW DID YOU BEGIN YOUR
ADVENTURE IN THE WORLD OF TATTOOS?
I did my apprenticeship in 2010, under Tomas
Gaupsas in Koping, Sweden. Our friendship
started in quite the usual way, and I needed
a place where I could develop my skills and
gain some professional knowledge of tattooing.
Before when I was living in Denmark, I was just
collecting certain information from anywhere I
could find it. After three or four months doing
the apprenticeship in Sweden, I had to get
back to my education (Multimedia Design and
Communication), which was not successful. I
didn’t feel like it was my thing. Then I got an
invitation to try and work in a Danish tattoo
shop, and that’s where everything started.
MOST OF YOUR TATTOOS ARE IN REALISTIC STYLE.
HOW DO YOU MANAGE TO GIVE AN ARTISTIC FEEL
TO YOUR TATTOOS, SO THAT THEY ARE NOT JUST A
COPY – EVEN A PERFECT COPY – OF REALITY?
Well, that’s a tricky question, since it’s very
hard to explain why or how I do one specific
thing or another. It just happens. But if we’re
talking about technique, then it’s all about
patience and passion. The more time and
passion a person gives to a certain piece,
the more it becomes alive. In my opinion,
technique is learnable; it just takes each
person a different amount of time to achieve
that state of mind where you believe you are
able to pull off a design drawn on paper, or
transform an object you took a picture of. But
everybody has their own way of thinking and
creating, so I think this one is impossible to
explain.
IN YOUR DRAWINGS, WHICH ALLOW YOU THE
FREEDOM TO CREATE WHAT YOU LIKE, THERE
APPEARS TO BE A CERTAIN PREFERENCE FOR DARK
SUBJECTS AND COLORS, LINKED TO THE HORROR
AND FANTASY WORLDS. WHERE DO YOU FIND THE
INSPIRATION FOR YOUR WORK?
Mainly from music (ambient, experimental,
jazz, various classical), but also movies
(mystery, drama, sci-fi), photography, and
pretty much everything that captures my
attention. I like subtly dark themes.
THE PRECISION WITH WHICH YOU CREATE DETAILS
(HAIR, ANIMAL FUR, FACIAL EXPRESSIONS)
REVEALS YOUR EXCELLENT SKILL. WHAT HAVE YOU
STUDIED AND HOW DO YOU TRAIN IN ORDER TO
HAVE SUCH IMPECCABLE TECHNIQUE?
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TATTOO ARTIST
As far back as I can remember, my biggest
problem and passion has been detailing, even
before I had a basic foundation or knew how
to create a basic composition…so that’s why I
never finished my drawings. Things got better
after I started attending Junior Art School at
the age of 13. At that time I was amazed and
completely blown away by landscapes and
realistic pencil or charcoal drawings and oil
paintings. I remember staying up late at night
to redraw from old postcards, just because they
had so many details in one place. Technique,
as I said, is something an artist can master in
a certain amount of time, but over time both
technique and the artist change. Certain rules
can be applied to all tattooists, but the rest is
personal preference. Without good contrast,
emotions and composition details have zero
value, in terms of durability and aesthetics.
IT SEEMS TO ME THAT YOU HAVE A PREFERENCE
FOR BLACK AND GREY, ESPECIALLY IN YOUR
PORTRAITS…OR AM I WRONG?
Well, yeah. I feel like I don’t have enough
knowledge to do color portraits well. And
also there are many more people who ask for
portraits in black and grey instead of color, and
I prefer black and grey myself.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO TACKLE ANOTHER STYLE?
Of course, when the time is right I would love
to start from scratch and try a completely
different side of tattooing. It would change
my point of view and help me think about
tattooing at 180 degrees. I think the first thing I
would love to try would be new traditional. I’m
very inspired by the strength and simplicity of
this genre. It’s very creative too.
WHAT’S IT LIKE TO LIVE AND WORK IN YOUR CITY,
ŠIAULIAI?
It’s a relatively small town, with a population of
about 100,000. It’s a nice, cozy and calm town,
and for me it’s got everything I need; when I
feel bored or get tired of it I travel somewhere
else for a bit and come back refreshed. The
studio I’m working in is called Totemas Tattoo,
and there are six of us. We each have very
different styles and preferences, and there’s
plenty of space to express ourselves.
WHAT IS YOUR CLIENTELE LIKE, AND WHAT ARE
THEIR MOST FREQUENT REQUESTS?
There’s a variety of people - in every possible
way - and everyone is very nice and friendly.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank
my international clients for traveling far just
to get something done by me! And thanks to
all my clients, past and future, for letting me
permanently express myself on their skin.
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TATTOO ARTIST
IN LITHUANIA, ARE THERE OTHER ARTISTS WITH
WHOM YOU’RE IN TOUCH? IS THERE A NETWORK
OF PEOPLE WHO MEET REGULARLY IN ORDER TO
EXCHANGE IDEAS ON TATTOO ART?
Yes, there are a lot of artists working under
different styles. I don’t know all of them
personally, but those I do know are very
friendly and we share ideas and knowledge
when we meet. Unfortunately, Lithuania
still doesn’t host a major tattoo convention,
because people are still in the process of
understanding and appreciating tattoo art.
Most people still think of a tattoo as a piece
of jewelry, but of course it’s not just that.
DO YOU OFTEN TRAVEL TO CONVENTIONS?
I have only been to two or three for the
moment. But now I’m trying to be more
active and I plan to attend more conventions
in the future.
WHAT OTHER PASSIONS DO YOU HAVE, AND
WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO DO WHEN YOU’RE NOT
TATTOOING?
I love skateboarding, even though I don’t
ride that much as before, because of work.
I also love bicycling, and I try my best to
keep my body in shape, because exercise
refreshes my mind so well, and gives me
the energy to concentrate all day. I don’t
have many hobbies, but I think that a hobby
shouldn’t be related to the work you do,
so that you can keep your mind sharp and
focused every day.
WHAT PROFESSIONAL PROJECTS DO YOU HAVE
FOR THE FUTURE?
I really want to start learning how to do oil
painting. There are also some plans to make
a DVD. For the moment the idea hasn’t fully
taken shape, but I’m working on it.
IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU’D LIKE TO ADD
BEFORE WE END THIS INTERVIEW?
I would like to thank Tattoo Life magazine
for giving me this opportunity. I would also
like to thank my family for always believing
in me, and of course all my colleagues from
Totemas Tattoo and others for supporting me
and for just being very nice people. And to
InkMachine for all its support and all the
Tattoo Life readers who will read this interview
– a big thank you.
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CONVENTION
TEXT BY: ANNA ROSSIPHOTOS BY: DEBORA MARCATI
72
Paolo
Old
, Ghirig
ori F
am
ily,
Oggio
no, Italy
THE 2013 EDITION OF THE NAPOLI TATTOO EXPO WENT
ONSTAGE AT THE MOSTRA D’OLTREMARE IN ONE OF ITALY’S
MOST POPULAR CITIES, A LITTLE BIT EARLIER COMPARED
TO THE USUAL DATE IN MIDSUMMER. ORGANIZED BY
THE ASSOCIAZIONE CULTURALE NAPOLINDELEBILE, IN
COLLABORATION WITH FRIZ TATTOO AND MICROMUTAZIONI,
THIS CONVENTION DEDICATED TO ARTISTIC EXPRESSIONS
RELATED TO BODY ART AND BODY MODIFICATION
CELEBRATED ITS TENTH ANNIVERSARY.
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Anto
nio
Pro
iett
i, C
am
den T
ow
n, Rom
e, Italy
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Fabrici
o M
ello, Casa
de L
eoes,
Nante
s, F
rance
Murr
an, M
urr
an T
att
oo, M
onte
catini Te
rme, Italy
Gia
nlu
ca F
usc
o, Posi
tive V
ibra
tions,
Ara
deo, Italy
Andre
a P
allocc
hin
i, F
our
X, San F
elice
Circe
o, Italy
As the convention
organizers proudly
declare, a lot of ink
has passed under
the bridge since the
time it all began.
Over the years the
Napoli Tattoo Expo
has established
itself as a top
international showcase for tattoo art in
southern Italy, and once again it succeeded in
bringing together tattoo art, music, figurative
art and street art. This year’s fair saw the
presence of over 200 international tattooists
who, along with participants, admired – and
contributed to creating – a very unique show.
Besides tattooing, there were concerts, DJ sets,
seminars, performances and contests. Speaking
of contests, the big news this year was the
prestigious 2013 International Competition
Chaudesaigues Award which chose the Napoli
event for its second edition. The contest jury
consisted of only the finest experts and tattoo
artists: Shane O’Neill, Nikko Hurtado, Alex De
Pase and Mike Devries.
Joe Capobianco, an American artist who has
been world-famous for twenty years now
thanks to his iconographic pin-ups, was also
in Italy for the first time.
There were lots of tattooists from the Campania
region who acted as hospitable and charming
hosts as they moved deftly between making
tattoos, offering seminars and putting on shows,
including: Enzo Brandi, Costantino Sasso, Riccardo
Cassese, Mojo, Roberto Lauro and Silvia Amantea.
Other Italian tattooists answering the roll call were:
Murran Billi, Vlady, P’Ink with his artistic and
experimental creations, Marco Lari with his
horror and Sabry Ink Lady with her highly
requested funny style creations. Music fans
had plenty to choose from during an event
which makes music one of its top protagonists:
there was lovely Tying Tiffany’s hypnotic
electronic, Karim Qqru’s Italian rock’n’roll and
the Napolitan band The Collettivo; the latter
two are making interesting strides in the indie
world. Unlike past conventions, this year the
heat let up and allowed participants to fully
enjoy all the collateral events, including
shows, painting workshops and the “Bod Mod”
seminar for professional piercers.
The Naples convention always provides
satisfaction in the food department, with an
incredible amount of steamy and irresistible
pizzas which Naples is famous for. The cheerful
and generous nature of Naples folks always
leaves a carefree and unmistakable mark on
this highly popular event.
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CONTESTS:BEST OF SHOW1 RICCARDO CASSESE 2 JOE CAPOBIANCO
COLOR TATTOO1 ANDREA “ANTIKORPO” LANZI 2 LOVE TATTOO3 MAX LABARBERA
SMALL TATTOO1 ANDREA “ANTIKORPO” LANZI 2 PABLO (Milano City Ink)3 CARLO FORMISANO
TRIBAL1 PIERLUIGI DELIPERI2 COSTATTOO3 CLAUDIO COMITE
REALISTIC BLACK AND GREY1 MATTEO PASQUALIN2 RICCARDO CASSESE
JAPANESE1 VLADY (Positive Vibration)2 FRANCO ROGGIA3 FABIO GARGIULO (South Ink)
TRADITIONAL 1 GOODFELLAS TATTOO2 MARCO VARCHETTA3 DONNA MAYLA
75
Joe C
apobia
nco
, Hope G
allery
, New
Haven, USA
Enzo
Bra
ndi, E
nzo
’s T
att
oo, Naple
s, Ita
ly
Mojo, Mojo Tattoo, Avellino, Italy
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TATTOO ARTIST
“THE POLYNESIAN PEOPLE’S WAY OF THINKING IS IMBEDDED IN THESE MOTIFS
THAT WE TATTOO OURSELVES WITH; WHETHER BY MACHINE OR TATAU (HAND-
TOOLED), THESE ARE THE TOOLS OF OUR TRADE AND AS TRADESMEN IT IS OUR
GOAL TO BECOME MASTERS OF OUR TRADE AND CULTURAL INHERITANCE.”
STRONG WORDS FROM A HIGHLY MOTIVATED AND TALENTED INDIVIDUAL, SI’I
LIUFAU IS PART OF THE WORLDWIDE RESURGENCE OF MODERN POLYNESIAN
TATTOOING. IT’S ALWAYS INTERESTING FOR ME TO LEARN ABOUT ANOTHER
TATTOO STYLE, SO RICH AND COMPLEX IN CULTURE AND SIGNIFICANCE. I MET SI’I
THROUGH THE POLYNESIAN EXPERT
SULU’APE STEVE LOONEY AND HAD THE
OPPORTUNITY TO INTERVIEW HIM FOR
TATTOO LIFE.
CAN YOU TELL ME ABOUT
GROWING UP AND YOUR
CULTURAL HERITAGE?
I was born and raised
here in Orange
County. My dad came
straight from the rock
(Samoa) and my mom
was a blonde, green-
eyed, German girl from
Minnesota. Around the time I was in 5th
grade my parents divorced, and my siblings
and I ended up living with my dad and his
two sisters and a horde of cousins. It was
an interesting household, as my dad and his
sisters would speak to each other and to
friends of theirs in Samoan, but to us they
only spoke in English, and we could only
speak English at home. This was somewhat
ironic since every other aspect of our lives
was experienced in a very Samoan way, or
fa’asamoa: discipline, activities and food.
THAT’S FUNNY, MY MOM SPOKE TO ME IN
ENGLISH AND JAPANESE BUT MY FATHER ALWAYS
SPOKE TO ME IN ENGLISH. TATTOOS ARE AN
IMPORTANT PART OF SAMOAN CULTURE.
CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT YOUR FIRST
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INTERACTIONS WITH TATTOOS - SAMOAN OR OTHER
STYLES?
I will never forget the first time I really
noticed a Samoan tattoo. I’d already had
my last name tattooed on my back and at
this time I was playing JC football locally,
when I met this guy who had just come
from Samoa. He had an armband with
the Fu’e and To’oto’o (iconic symbols of
Samoan culture) surrounded by what we
recognize as traditional Samoan designs.
It was an amazing thing to see! These
tattoos identified this person as a Samoan
so clearly and simply, while having their
own aesthetic appeal. And little did I know
at the time, but those designs held the keys
to Samoan culture and history. It took six
or seven more years after that for me to
become involved in tattooing and another
couple of years after that before I found
myself on this journey to understand these
designs that define and identify Polynesian
people. Eventually the search for this
understanding brought me to the Sulu’ape
family, where I laid on mats for two and a
half weeks to receive my own tatau (pe’a),
and began to understand the culture and
society of the people who have protected
and cultivated this art.
OKAY…CAN WE GO BACK TO THE STORY ABOUT
THAT FIRST TATTOO ON YOUR BACK WITH YOUR
LAST NAME? It sounds like you were tattooed
when you were rather young.
Yeah, I was tattooed right around my 18th
birthday. I was scared that my father would
have a lot to say about it, as we were raised
in a strict LDS family. And he did have a lot
to say, when he found out about it. But that
tattoo had been made by a local artist who
had tattooed a lot of my friends, and it was
one of them who took me to get tattooed
at his apartment. I only remember him
drawing it on freehand, and then once he
started, squeezing the chair saying, “Holy
Shit!” I think I broke the chair! He was fairly
fast though, and it was all over in 2 hours.
BUT YOU SAY YOU TRULY GOT INVOLVED IN
TATTOOING LATER. HOW DID THAT COME ABOUT?
I started to tattoo when someone gave me a
tattoo I didn’t like. I was in prison at the time,
and had this Jamaican guy tattoo a design I
had drawn up. In the end I wasn’t happy with
it, so I told the guy to give me the machine so
I could finish my own tattoo, and that’s how
it all started. Next thing I know, people were
asking me for tattoos left and right. So after
tattooing in the penitentiary for a couple of
years, I got out and landed a job at Lowrider
Tattoo III in Costa Mesa. Tattooing has been
in my life every day since then.
LET’S TALK ABOUT THE PE’A
The Pe’a or tatau is one of the most
documented and prolific tattoos throughout
Polynesia, and is a significant part and
identifying feature of Samoan culture. The
pe’a is a rite of passage for males in the
culture, to show endurance through pain,
subservience to one’s peers and elders, and
obedience to the protocols and expectations of
Samoan society.
WHAT WAS YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH THE PE’A LIKE?
When I was young I had heard about Samoan
tattoos, but it wasn’t until I’d started tattooing
myself that this part of tattooing was truly
unveiled to me. The first time I saw a tatau,
I was speechless. It was the most inspiring
tattoo I’d ever seen and even though I knew
very little at the time, the importance of this
tattoo to Samoan culture made it even more
alluring. The moment I saw a tatau, after
already having become a tattooer myself - and
specifically a Polynesian tattooer - I knew that
I wanted to experience and wear this tattoo. I
just didn’t know if I was qualified or if I would
have my family’s support to do this. But very
soon I was the one laying in front of the Tufuga
with my family and friends in attendance to
show their support. Little did I know at the
time, but this was the last task that my dad
helped me with because he passed away two
weeks after I completed my pe’a. I do feel that
he knew that I needed to finish my pe’a, and
how important it was to me but also to our
family since I was the first Sogaimiti from my
father’s side in a very long time.
IT SOUNDS TO ME LIKE YOUR PE’A AND THE
EXPERIENCES LEADING UP TO IT REALLY CONNECTED
YOU TO YOUR SAMOAN HERITAGE AND IDENTITY. HAS
IT CHANGED YOUR LIFE?
Without a doubt! Looking back at how I grew
up here in Southern California, I would say
that before my pe’a I knew nothing of Samoa.
Now that I have my pe’a, I know what Samoa
is. I am certainly no expert, but I’ve realized
that there is so much more to being Samoan
than how we are viewed by society today. The
Tatau, Malofie and Pe’a are very important
defining aspects of Samoan culture and it is
an honor to be involved in the survival of this
art form, with the knowledge that it has been
practiced on these small Pacific islands for
thousands of years. Growing up, I always
wanted to learn more about my culture,
and as a tattooer I’ve wanted my work to
be recognized as Samoan; the experience
of getting my pe’a gave me more insight
into Samoan culture than I would have ever
learned through books, the internet or stories.
I CAN RELATE. I FLEW TO JAPAN TO GET MY
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TATTOO ARTISTBACKPIECE AND FELT THE SAME TYPE OF
AWAKENING. IT’S A GREAT THING! OKAY, LET’S
TALK ABOUT THE TECHNICAL ASPECTS OF THE
PE’A: HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE? IT SEEMS TO BE A
GRUELING EXPERIENCE AND I’VE HEARD IT CALLED
“A RITE OF PASSAGE?” WHAT DO YOU THINK?
A pe’a takes as long as a person needs to
finish it. I’ve seen Su’a Sulu’ape Peter do
one in just 3 days! But my own personal
tatau took 2 and a half weeks, a total of
10 sessions over 17 days. Then there
are some that take longer than that for
whatever reasons…the important thing is
just to finish - otherwise you’ll be thought
of as a pe’a muku, which is nothing to be
proud of. Receiving a tatau is a draining
experience for a person, because it tests
your physical, mental and spiritual limits. It
is a rite of passage for Samoan people, and
also the source of inspiration for much of
modern-day tattooing.
IT SEEMS THAT THERE IS A FUSION OF POLYNESIAN
STYLES NOWADAYS - WHY DID THIS HAPPEN AND
HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT IT?
We have most definitely seen a welcome
progression of Polynesian work over the
past several years, with artists combining
not only the motifs of multiple islands in
one tattoo, but also combining Polynesian
tattoos with other mainstream tattoo styles
such as Japanese, black and grey, color,
etc…the only limit is our imagination. This
progression is a very healthy and natural
part of tattooing. One major reason for
the fusion of Polynesian tattoos has been
the migration of the Polynesian people
as well as interracial mixing. Many of our
families here in the United States are
either first or second generation, and as
we have relocated and re-established
our communities, we have seen many
of our Polynesians coming together in a
multicultural Polynesian community. So
since we’ve begun sharing our individual
cultures, food, dances and bodily fluids with
each other, it is only normal that we should
share our tattoos with each other, as well.
WHAT DO THE TATTOOS MEAN?
Polynesian tattoos are the identifying
marks of the Polynesian people. The motifs,
simple representations of nature, represent
the complex Polynesian philosophy of life
and community. As with most indigenous
people, there was and still is a strong
relationship with nature, not only as a
source of substance but also as a source of
spiritual inspiration and personal guidance.
Since every island in Polynesia is a little
bit different from the others, so are their
tattoos.
HOW DOES ONE STUDY SAMOAN AND/OR
POLYNESIAN TATTOOING?
Well, first off it helps if you are Samoan
or Polynesian in some way. With so
much of the designs representing
different aspects of each Polynesian
culture, an understanding of the culture
is imperative to being able to learn the
artwork. Also, tattooing a Polynesian
design, whether specifically Samoan or
from any of the other Polynesian societies,
is a cultural inheritance. The designs and
the knowledge of how to apply them to the
body have been handed down through the
generations. Having said that, it is my belief
that a person has to learn directly from one
of these Tufuga Tatau or Master Tattooists;
literature and the internet should be used
only for supporting knowledge and not as
the basis of a person’s understanding of
this art form. Something else a person
needs in order to study Samoan or
Polynesian tattoos is to wear a Polynesian
tattoo, whether contemporary or
traditional.
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WHAT IS IMPORTANT IN SAMOAN OR POLYNESIAN
TATTOOING?
The most important thing in the Polynesian
art of tattooing is the person. It’s the person
getting the tattoo who decides which motifs
will be used, men or women, and the
island of origin. In the case of
a non-Polynesian, the person
should choose their island of
inspiration. For example, many
Samoan, Tongan and Hawaiian
people want their tattoos to
represent their heritage. In these
cases, as tattooers we must know
the differences in these designs
so that we can properly serve
our clients’ wishes. In these
situations, our work as tattooers
becomes a civil service to these
individual Polynesian communities.
It’s important!
HOW IMPORTANT ARE THE “STICKS”?
ARE YOU LEARNING THIS TRADITIONAL
METHOD?
The “sticks” or au’s are very
important in many aspects
of modern-day Polynesian
tattooing. However in my opinion,
the most important thing is the
knowledge that accompanies these
tools, the history of Samoa and
folk tales of these islands. So for
me, using the au’s and learning
the traditions of this trade are
essential since I am a tattooer of
Samoan heritage. In order to be able
to tattoo Samoan art or any other Polynesian
art style, I need to understand my own
roots first. So here I am today, still chasing
all the knowledge which is a part of the
Samoan tatau.
DO YOU THINK HAND TATTOOING IS MORE
TRADITIONAL?
Well yes, of course “hand tapping” is more
traditional. There really is no comparison with
machine tattooing, but they are both beautiful
in their own ways. After receiving my first
tatau, I remember looking at it and thinking
there were so many little imperfections!
Don’t get me wrong, the design was what
it was intended to be and I realized that
this traditional art form had a much deeper
significance than just looking pretty. This
art form holds the heritage of a people who
have thrived throughout the Pacific Ocean.
And it isn’t just the knowledge of Samoa, but
the Polynesian people’s way of thinking that
is imbedded in these motifs that we tattoo
ourselves with; whether by machine or tatau
(hand-tooled), these are the tools of our trade
and as tradesmen it is our goal to become
masters of our trade and cultural inheritance.
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BY LUISA GNECCHI RUSCONECULTURE
It seems that archeologists
unanimously agree that
tattooing was practiced in
Europe before the last ice age,
12,000 years ago. Proof of this
can be found from discoveries
made in 1867 in France, in the
Grotte di Fées in Châtelperron
– where bowls containing
red and black pigments were
found, along with sharp flint stone
tools – and similar findings from caves
in Scandinavia and Portugal. The tools’
sizes and shapes have led archeologists
to believe that they were used for
tattooing. Human figures with four
vertical lines carved into their cheeks –
which look like tattoos – were found on
stone blocks in Aveyron and Tarn, France.
In Romania, on the banks of the Danube,
small clay statues with lines etched onto
the bodies were discovered; these lines
are also considered to be tattoos. The
clay statues date from 5,000 BC and have
been attributed to Cucuteni cultures.
From writings of ancient Greek and
Roman historians we know that the
Indo-European tribes from Western
Europe tattooed themselves: the
Dacians, the Thracians and the Illyrians
would create tattoos which represented
a person’s social status, a custom
which they probably learned from their
conquerors, the Asian Scythians.
Unquestionable proof of tattooing’s
existence in ancient Europe was gained
THE INFORMATION THAT IS AVAILABLE ON THE ORIGINS OF TATTOOING IN EUROPE GOES BACK TO ANCIENT GREEK AND ROMAN TEXTS AND TO SEVERAL ARCHEOLOGICAL
FINDINGS OF MUCH LATER PERIODS, WHOSE INTERPRETATIONS ARE NOT ALWAYS AGREED UPON BY SCHOLARS.
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in 1991 when the mummified body of a
man named Oetzi was discovered in a
glacier in the Alps at the Italian-Austrian
border. The mummy was 5,000 years
old and was preserved in excellent
condition, thanks to ice. Tattoo marks
are clearly visible on its skin. These
marks were etched behind the knees
and on the back – very unusual locations
for tattoos, which are usually placed on
highly visible parts of the body – and for
this reason scholars are in agreement
that these tattoos were made for
therapeutic reasons, as a cure for back
pain. Indeed, these tattoos are located
in the same areas where acupuncture
needles are placed to cure arthritis.
In the twentieth century, other important
discoveries were made that have helped
reconstruct the history of tattooing on
our continent. In southern Siberia, on
the upper Altai Mountains, the bodies
of a man and a woman were found
in two different burial mounds. These
bodies had also been well-preserved
for 2,500 years, thanks to ice and a
skillful mummification technique which
almost completely preserved their skins.
In 1948, the Russian anthropologist
Sergei Rudenko discovered a Pazyryk
cemetery at about 120 kilometers from
the Chinese-Russian border. The tombs
Rudenko discovered were in an excellent
state of conservation. They contained
skeletons and complete bodies of
embalmed horses and human beings,
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BIBLIOGRAPHY:- Steve Gilbert: Tattoo History; - G. Luigi Cerchiari: Chiromanzia e tatuaggio, Hoepli, Milano, 1903;- A. De Blasio: Il tatuaggio, Arnaldo Forni Editore, Napoli, 1905;- Luisa Gnecchi Fercioni: Tatuaggi la scrittura del corpo, Mursia;- Maarten Hesselt Van Dinter: The World of Tattoo, Kit Publishers, 2005.
as well as a large number of artifacts:
harnesses, saddles, a cart, blankets,
clothing, jewelry, musical instruments,
amulets, tools and hashish pipes
(which were described by Rudenko
as “pipes for smoking hemp”). Also
discovered were textiles coming from
China and Persia, which were thousands
of kilometers from Pazyryk territory.
Rudenko’s most important discovery
was the mummified body of a Pazyryk
chief - a stocky and strong man who had
died when he was 50 years old. While a
part of his body had deteriorated, most
of his tattoos were easy to see. This
chief had elaborate tattoos of real and
mythological animals all over his body.
The best preserved tattoos were of a
donkey, a mountain goat, two stylized
deers with long horns and an imaginary
carnivorous animal, on his right arm. His
chest displayed two griffin-like monsters
and his left arm had partially erased
images which seem to be two deers and
another mountain goat. On the front
of his right leg there was a large fish
which extended from his foot to his
knee, while a monster seemed to be
climbing onto a foot; on the inside of his
shin there was a series of four running
rams which were attached together to
create one design. His left leg also had
tattoos, but they had deteriorated and
were no longer visible. On his back he
had a series of small circles along his
spine which probably had been given
as therapy. Tattoos like this are still
made today to cure back pains in some
Siberian tribes.
In the summer of 1993 another Pazyryk
mummified body was discovered in
Siberia, on the Umok plateau. This time
it was a woman, whose body had been
buried for over 2,400 years in a coffin
made out of a hollowed-out larch trunk.
This young woman was named “the ice
virgin”. The outside of her coffin was
covered in leather, which had been
engraved with stylized images of deer
and a snow leopard. What probably
happened is that shortly after she was
buried, frozen rain flooded the tomb
and so the entire contents of the death
chamber remained frozen until it was
discovered. Her arms were tattooed with
images of mythological animals similar
to those of the previously discovered
Pazyryk warrior. She was dressed with
a flowing dress of white silk, a long,
red, wool skirt and long felt socks. She
had an elaborate hairdo consisting of
hair and felt. Many artifacts were also
found in the death chamber, such as
gold ornaments, cutlery, a brush, a
vase containing marijuana and a mirror
which had a picture of a deer engraved
on the back. Six horses with elaborate
harnesses had been sacrificed and laid
on trunks which formed the roof of the
death chamber.
In the pre-Christian age Pazyryk nomads,
Shiites and many other local tribes gave
rise to the Shiite-Siberian culture.
The Shiites and the Pazyryk were two
nomadic peoples who roamed the
vast steppes of Central Asia with their
herds. Skillful riders, they became
dangerous warriors who crossed
enormous distances in order to raid
adjacent tribes. The Shiites and Pazyryk
dominated the vast areas of Russia and
Central Asia with an iron hand starting
in ‘800 BC, for a millennium. Their
predominance extended from Asia to
the east Balkans. They were famous for
their jewelry and utensils decorated with
animal figures like those found in their
tombs. The same animal designs appear
in the tattoos of the male and female
Pazyryk warriors who were discovered
in Siberia.
The most beautiful and well-preserved
tattoos are those displaying four rams
on the ankle of a man and a horn
bracelet on a woman’s wrist. The depth
of the pigment in the skin suggests
that the tattoos were made with the
pricking technique rather than the
needle and thread technique which
was widespread at that time among the
Eskimos, Siberian tribes and the Inuit.
The mastery involved in the creation of
these designs and the tattoo technique
were just as good as those of Burmese
and Thai tattoos from the same period,
leading to the idea that perhaps these
civilizations were connected in some
way. Such detailed representations
of real and mythological animals
are present even in modern tattoos
in Southeast Asia, where they are
considered to be magical and protective
for hunting and fishing. The Pzyryk
tribes also probably considered these
tattoos as good luck amulets for hunting
deer. The fact that they were found on
the bodies of only two warriors leads
one to believe that these tattoos were
reserved only for upper class people.
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FLASHSAMUELE BRIGANTIA Sailor’s Life
SAMUELE BRIGANTI DRUM TATTOOORBETELLO, ITALYWWW.SAMUELEBRIGANTI.COM
Inspiration for these subjects came to me through an attraction I’ve
always had for traditional style and for the pioneers of that style, but
also thanks to my love for the sea. The subjects, the atmosphere,
and colors in these illustrations express what I see every
day living by the sea, surrounded by ports, boats and the
strange people who have always hung out in places
like this! The color that you see in these sunsets is very similar
to what I see every evening, as I gaze out at the sea from
my window, in Tuscany. I always use watercolors
because I like the graphic result and I find
that this technique is a little bit
like tattooing, since all the brush
strokes have to be perfect the
first time you lay them down,
especially the shadings.
«I wanted to dedicate these watercolors entirely to the sea, and ‘Sailor’s Life’ is the title I chose for this set.»
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Bez, Triplesixst Studio, Tyne and Wear, UK
Daniel Di Mattia, Calypso Tattoo, Liege, BelgiumAnabi-Tattoo, Anabi Tattoo, Szczecin, Poland
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Cang Long, Cang Long Tattoo, Shanghai, China Alex Gotza, Dirty Roses, Thessaloniki, Greece
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Daniel Martos Sanchez, Demon Tattoo, La Seu D’Urgell, Spain
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Chris Danley, Forever Tattoo, Sacramento, USA
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Anderson Luna, Saved Tattoo, NYC, USA
Claire Reid, Claire Reid Tattoo, On the road, Australia
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