Tattoo artists get creative at Hong Kong Fair

(14 Oct 2016) FOR CLEAN VERSION SEE STORY NUMBER: 4060664

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Tattooists are busy with their buzzing ink guns at the Hong Kong International Tattoo Convention.
The event – now in its fourth year, is drawing over 200 tattoo artists from all around the world as attendees take the chance to be tattooed by artists from far-flung places or with otherwise long waiting-lists.

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Considered as one of the most significant and established tattoo convention in Asia, attendees can meet well-known international tattooists from Japan, Spain, Germany, the UK and China.
If it weren't for this chance, they'd either have to wait months or more for an appointment or travel many miles.
The convention's organizer Gabe Shum, who is also a tattoo artist says the number of tattooists in Hong Kong has grown from only a few ten years ago to nearly 200 today.
"We hold the international tattoo show to let both new and experienced tattooists to exchange their skills. The convention also give chance to the public to know more about tattoo culture, and not to think we are bad people, because throughout the history, tattoo is not only for a certain kind of people," says Shum.
Having her left arm covered with colourful tattoos, Polish Tattoo artist Kat Blackstone is inking her client's arm with a Japanese symbol.
One of a few female tattoo artists in the convention, she specialises in hand drawn tattoos.
Blackstone's designs are mainly inspired by Asian mythical symbols, folk patterns, embroideries and wood work. She says there are growing number of customers getting small tattoos.
"I actually get quite a few people to come to me to get their first tattoo. It's often young women and they get something that shows. But I also tattoo people that are covered and just have fingers done as last things, so it varies. But yes definitely there are more people that are interested in it (small tattoos) now maybe few years back," says Blackstone.
In additional to small symbol tattoos, large scale Japanese traditional tattoos remain popular.
Chef Godfrey Jau says that the convention is a great chance to get a tattoo from a skilled Japanese tattooist.
"I think today is a really good chance to get a tattoo from an artist from overseas, otherwise we have to buy a ticket to Japan. Because we need at least twice (touch ups) for this tattoo."
Japanese tattooist Shigenori Iwasaki is working on tattoo touch ups on his client from China. New customers usually have to wait up to five years to get their skin inked by Iwasaki.
His designs usually feature Japanese history and culture.
"When a customer ask me to tattoo them with a Japanese traditional art subject, I would study the story and history behind the subject. If the tattoo doesn't have a story and meaning in it, that is not a real tattoo," he says.
The Hong Kong International Tattoo Convention runs from 14-16 October at Hong Kong Kai Tak Cruise Terminal.


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