Do your parents like your tattoos? Do they react like this?
Tabloids, Tattoos and Tinfoil Hats: Hannah Mosley at TEDxManchester
Tabloids, Tattoos and Tinfoil Hats: Hannah Mosley at TEDxManchester
Our columnist, tattoo artist Hannah Mosley, recently did a talk at TEDxManchester, and for someone who claims to have taken up illustration because they’re “not good with words” it is an eloquent, incredibly interesting and well-paced talk on tattoo culture and media misrepresentation.
If you missed it, don’t worry, it was caught on film, check it out below.
We asked her some questions about the talk and how she feels now…
> How did you feel when you were asked to do a TEDxManchester talk?
Pretty damn good! Some of the organisers had seen me speak before so it was a great vote of confidence that they wanted to include me in the program for TEDxManchester. I was a little awestruck by some of the other speakers.
Pretty damn good! Some of the organisers had seen me speak before so it was a great vote of confidence that they wanted to include me in the program for TEDxManchester. I was a little awestruck by some of the other speakers.
> How did you decide what to talk about?
I knew I wanted to talk about something that the whole audience could relate to. This led to the main focus of my talk being more about how discerning we are about the media we consume, using my experience as a tattooist to illustrate how even fairly innocuous seeming articles can really be pushing an agenda, rather than talking exclusively about tattooing. I figured if you’re at a TED talk you’re certainly going to be affected in some way, shape or form by media, even if you aren’t into tattoos at all. Hopefully tackling the topic this way also gave people who aren’t into tattoos an interesting insight into our industry without making them feel totally alienated.
I knew I wanted to talk about something that the whole audience could relate to. This led to the main focus of my talk being more about how discerning we are about the media we consume, using my experience as a tattooist to illustrate how even fairly innocuous seeming articles can really be pushing an agenda, rather than talking exclusively about tattooing. I figured if you’re at a TED talk you’re certainly going to be affected in some way, shape or form by media, even if you aren’t into tattoos at all. Hopefully tackling the topic this way also gave people who aren’t into tattoos an interesting insight into our industry without making them feel totally alienated.
> Were you nervous? What did you focus on?
I was climbing the walls a little beforehand, but a fellow speaker, author Anthony Lishak really talked me down so I went out on stage really excited. The audience were very keen, and I had a couple of very close friends in the crowd too, so I felt pretty relaxed once I got going.
I was climbing the walls a little beforehand, but a fellow speaker, author Anthony Lishak really talked me down so I went out on stage really excited. The audience were very keen, and I had a couple of very close friends in the crowd too, so I felt pretty relaxed once I got going.
> How did you feel after? Also how do you feel about watching the recording?
Aside from kicking myself for going over time by about four minutes, I felt pretty good. It’s useful to see the recording – hindsight is always 20/20 and it’s allowed me to refine my views and delivery a bit more. For instance, I felt a point that didn’t really get across in the talk was that I don’t believe the shaming of tattoos, even when they *are* celebrity-inspired, is helping anyone either. It could be seen in the video that I’m making the case that all tattooed people are getting work done for academic or deeply personal reasons, and that the nasty media keeps saying we just like celebs. That’s patently not true, lots of clients are heavily influenced by the portrayal of tattooed celebrities. Regardless, I still don’t think these clients personal decisions about their bodies should be fodder for shock-docs and patronising lifestyle articles.
New studio in North London, Underground Ink
A New Kind Of Tattitude!
Underground Ink is a new studio based in North London and it boasts a unique and highly stylised aesthetic inside its doors. Vintage Chesterfield sofas sit in front of walls that artistically interpret a London Underground tube station. Launched by former Ibiza-club manager and entreprenuer Andy Murphy, Underground Ink is born from his passion for tattoo design and his ambition to transform the traditional visual identity of tattoo parlours.
Unlike its location in High Barnet, it’s most definitely not the end of the line for Underground Ink, it’s just the beginning!
We caught up with Underground Ink’s two resident tattoo artists to find out a bit more about them…
Mihai Lancu
How did you get into tattooing? My story began 11 years ago when I learnt how to make my own rudimentary tattoo machine. It was very expensive at that time to own a professional one and I was really into drawing and graffiti and it was just a passion for some time. Then I met a great artist from my country (Ali Bajko) who taught me how things run in a busy tattoo shop and how to do what I do. So much has changed since I began – there are so many new developments in the tattoo market!
How would you describe your style? When I am doing a tattoo I try to make the design as realistic as possible. I like portraits, particularly of women and I think I am strongest at black and grey designs. I like to capture different facial expressions in my work and translate them into my own style.
How long have you been tattooing for? I was 16 when I first inked someone’s skin – now I am 27, it’s been a long journey but rewarding and fulfilling every step of the way.
Where do you get your inspiration from? My inspiration comes from life around me every day as it happens. Feelings, emotions, interacting with people, everyone unique in their own way – I like to engage with expressions that can tell you something about that person and their story, their life.
If you weren’t a tattoo artist, what would you be? I have the best job in the world, I’m doing what I’ve always wanted to do and I am happy. Every day is different and every day is rewarding to the soul.
Davide Famiglietti
How did you get into tattooing? My first experience with tattooing dates back to when I was 22 years old. After art school I decided to try and enter into the mysterious world of tattooing! Initially my parents didn’t agree but my Mother has always been a creative person and she knew and saw that I’ve always loved drawing and painting since I was a child. I’ve always drawn portraits on paper in colour and it was this that gave me my attraction to the art world.
How would you describe your style? I don’t really have a defined style, I like to do a little bit of everything, I want to learn and evolve as an artist and tattooist. I am always looking to test myself – I want to continue to improve so that my next design is better than the previous one, taking the time to devote to details and the proper mixing of colours to get the best results.
How long have you been tattooing for? Three years.
Where do you get your inspiration from? In every artist there is a need to be inspired in a different way, so I learn from every experience. In particular I love Jeff Gogue’s work, I would love to be as good as him!
If you weren’t a tattoo artist, what would you be? I have a lot of passions I would like to explore, but I think in this life, I only want to be an artist!
Underground Ink currently have a Spring bonus running – all bookings for body piercings are just £15 pounds! Check out their website, undergroundink.co.uk, for more information.
Our pick of the best tattoo inspiration accounts to follow on Instagram
The Things&Ink team are pretty addicted to Instagram, here’s the accounts we just can’t get enough of at the moment…
Lucky Mutt, South Street Tattoo.
Black lines, bold colour, clear designs
Olivia-Chlöe Amateur painter Portside tattoo,Liverpool,UK.
Roma Severov, Artists based in Ukraine, pen and ink illustrator.
Abby Drielsma Tattoo apprentice, Eternal Addiction, Melbourne, Australia.
Andrei Svetov Tattoo artist, Master&Tattoo, Kaliningrad,Russia.
Annita Maslov, Illustrations Tattooist and Illustrator, Alchemy Tattoo Studio, Melbourne.
Lucy O’Connell ,Red Tattoo and Piercing, Leeds, UK.
Sam Smith, StevestonTattooCo.
Trailer Trash Tattoo, Australia.
Dan Fletcher, Winnipeg.
Georgina Liliane, Southampton,UK.
Who’s your Insta obsession?
Matt Lodder on his research and studying art history at Essex
In this video, Doctor Matt Lodder explains how his interest in tattoos, body modification and the representation of the body came about. Matt is currently working on a history of tattooing in Britain and how the perceptions of tattoos have changed over time. He also explains how art history students should challenge themselves and ‘make themselves uncomfortable’ in order to uncover and learn more.
There’s also a cheeky shot of The Art Issue of Things&Ink at the end of the video…
To find out more about art history at Essex go to: essex.ac.uk/arthistory
Matt Lodder on his research and studying art history at Essex from University of Essex on Vimeo.