12567_female_tattoo_artist.mp4 from Oddball Film + Video on Vimeo.
Exclusive new images in Mark Leaver’s facial tattoo project
Facial tattoos are bold and unflinching, they cannot be hidden – perhaps this is why they still sometimes provoke fear and prejudice. Mark Leaver’s photographic project tackles this issue and tries to dispel some of the myths that exist about this niche within a subculture.
These are two brand-new, unseen portraits in Mark Leaver’s beautiful (and much talked about) series of portrait photographs. (previously blogged about here, and also featured in The Identity Issue of Things&Ink). This time Mark photographs a couple of our friends, Duncan X and Blue from Into You, London.
Duncan X, 48 years old, Tattoo Artist
Duncan was 21 when he got his first tattoo. Duncan was in a band for 7 years until he began working at Into You as a receptionist at 30 years old. He did an apprenticeship in Soho with Dennis Cockell. Duncan’s first facial tattoo was by Curley Moore (when Curly worked at Into You). Duncan doesn’t intend on getting any more facial work.
Blue, 50 years old, office manager at Into You, London
Blue was 18 when she started getting tattooed and it wasn’t until her mid 30s that she decided to move to her face. For her, the hands and neck were a bigger deal to get tattooed than her face. Blue has been at Into You for 20 years and she wants more facial work, but not for a while – maybe at 70!
A word from the photographer Mark:
It seems oddly timed that the project has had so much publicity and attention right after I’ve graduated from university! To get the series published by the Daily Mail is an amazing (and unexpected) progression of the project. This marks a new audience which is amazing for much a niche subject – before the series was only really viewed by people from the tattoo community, for it to be in a tabloid paper is incredible.
The project is nowhere near over, I’m still shooting. I shot these portraits last week of Duncan and Blue. And I actually shot two more today and will be doing two more tomorrow. There’s still a few big names/characters I’d like to have in the project before I put it to rest.
We will continue to keep you updated on Mark Leaver’s progression with this project. His work can be viewed at www.mdleaver.com
Identity – Portraits | Modification | Adornment. The exhibition launch night.
Identity – Portraits | Modification | Adornment.
An exhibition celebrating the work of tattooists, artists and photographers,
curated by Things&Ink magazine at Into You, London
This is a film by Papercut Pictures from the exhibition launch night.
Did you attend the launch night? Can you spot yourself in the video?
Identity: Portraits, Modification, Adornment from Papercut Pictures on Vimeo.
Music by: Manatees – ‘Untitled’ from the album Icarus, The Sunclimber
Some more information behind the exhibition:
Identity means something different to us all, and it is something some of us can struggle with into our adult years. This collection of original artwork and photography explores the way our identities can be informed by the world around us and what we choose to do with our bodies. Each piece is the artist’s interpretation of the theme – no restrictions or limitations. The collection is varied, exciting and thought-provoking.
The exhibition also coincides with the launch of The Identity Issue – issue 7 of Things & Ink magazine – which explores identity within the medium of tattooing, with stunning editorial shoots and in-depth features.
The Identity exhibition is currently on show at Into You London until the first week of July.
The Identity exhibition features work from:
Alex Binnie / Araceli 4ever / Axa Shireen / Goldilox
Delphine Noiztoy / Duncan X / Joao Bosco /
Matt (Oddboy) Barratt-Jones / Susanna Widmann / Wendy Pham
Ramon Maiden / James Woodford / Jack Newton / Tomas Tomas Adam Sage / Luke Garwood / Heather Shuker
Boob jobs and tattoos. An interview with Emily Vine, by Kelli Savill
Emily Vine is tattooist Kodie Smith’s girlfriend, she runs jewellery company With Love Treasures and is a qualified make-up artist. We met up with her to her to chat about her boob job, tattoos, and how they have made her a more confident woman.
What made you decide to get your boob job?
From around the age of 17 I’d always thought about having a boob job as I was never really happy with them. I started going to various cosmetic groups for consultations when I was 18 years old to get more of an insight into the surgery and see what each company had to offer. Overall I must have had consultations with about eight different companies until last year I went to MYA for a consultation and immediately knew they were the company for me. I’m only a month post surgery so they still have a lot of changing to do but I can honestly say it is one the best decisions I have made.
Was it a hard decision?
Being 100% sure on the company and surgeon was a pretty difficult decision but the actual surgery itself I was adamant I wanted. The build up to the actual procedure was so exciting that I am a little gutted its over but now I have the results I’ve always wanted.
You already had a chest piece prior to your surgery, has the tattoo changed at all?
As I knew I wanted a breast augmentation since I was 17, it was something I took into careful consideration before getting the tattoo done. I was worried it might distort the tattoo and that was something I didn’t want to happen. I got my chest piece done last January and I told my artist that I was going to have my boobs done sometime in the near future and she said that it would be fine. I trusted her opinion and went ahead with my tattoo. Just as she said, my tattoo hasn’t changed at all even though when I put my sports bra on, the pendant that sits in between my boobs vanishes but that isn’t something that bothers me.
Do you plan on any other kind of cosmetic surgery?
We all have imperfections that we wouldn’t mind changing, which is completely natural, but I don’t hate anything else enough to put myself through surgery again. A while back I was considering getting my nose done but the recovery doesn’t look like too much fun so I think I’ll avoid that. I might have lip fillers in the future, as it’s something I have been looking into, but that’s a simple procedure that doesn’t involve going under the knife so to speak.
Do you think cosmetic surgery changes the way you see yourself?
Most definitely. It’s such a life-changing experience going from living with something that bothered you everyday to finally being happy with how it looks. I feel like there’s a lot of stigma surrounding cosmetic surgery, and granted sometimes it’s taken a little too far, but everyone should have the chance to improve something about themselves if they want to. It’s all about how you feel in yourself, not what anyone else thinks.
Are you confident because you’re tattooed?
Personally, yes. They have made me a lot more confident. My tattoos are one of my favourite things about myself and make me focus a lot less on silly minor flaws. I feel so grateful to have some absolutely beautiful work on my skin from the likes of Gemma B (Helfire), Amy Savage, Kodie Smith, Anthony Cole, Rose Whittaker and so on. I will definitely feel amazing once my Eckel sleeve is in progress too.
How do you feel about your boyfriend Kodie (Smith) tattooing you?
I feel honoured to have his work on my skin. I’m such a proud girlfriend of how far he has come in such a short space of time and I love how modest he is about it. We are currently in the process of planning my foot tattoos which I’m excited but nervous about.
What is your favourite tattoo?
This is such a difficult one to answer because I have a lot of tattoos I adore but if I had to pick just one, my chest piece is definitely a favourite. It came out better than I expected and it’s such a solid piece. The artist behind quite a lot of my work including my chest piece is Gemma B (Helfire). She is such a talented artist who I feel doesn’t get enough recognition for her work.
Interview by Kelli Savill
Sailor Jerry sponsors The Things&Ink Identity exhibition
We are very pleased to announce that Sailor Jerry will be sponsoring the opening of IDENTITY – Portraits | Modification | Adornment – our exhibition at Into You London in May 2014.
Join and celebrate with us:
Thursday 22 May from 7pm
Into You, 144 St John St, London EC1V 4UA
RSVP here.
Sailor Jerry will be providing awesome cocktails including:
Jerry and Ginger Beer
Sailor Jerry and Coke
Jerry Mojito
Shave & a Haircut
Heavy Punch
. Respect his legacy, drink responsibly.
What more could you ask for? Ink, art and booze. See you on Thursday…
Cocktails recipes from Sailor Jerry coming soon. More information about the event here.