The Beauty Project at Selfridges

On Thursday 1 May, makeup artist Keely and I made a trip to Selfridges after my dad had informed me that there was a pop-up “tattoo shop” after seeing a tweet:

The Tattoo Shop

 

We were a little disappointed when we discovered that the tattoo shop wasn’t  a tattoo shop at all… there was Henna, and there was transfers, but no actual tattoos… (just tattoo imagery on the walls). Annoying considering that their website states that a tattoo and piercing shop exists on their ground floor – selfridges.com – this, in fact, was a pop-shop over a year ago.

The Tattoo Shop (the one with the henna) has popped up as part of The Beauty Project at Selfridges. The aim of The Beauty Project is to promote that beauty comes in all shapes and sizes – its aim to shatter some of the misconceptions that exist about what beauty is. Everyone is beautiful, young, old, fat, thin, and, of course, tattooed. Their un-retouched advertising campaign captures eight unknown stars chosen to represent all definitions of beauty.

The beauty project

Great idea in theory, but I can’t help but feel a little disappointed that on its opening night, the “tattooed” people at the event weren’t really tattooed at all – they had fake tattoos on.

But should I really complain? Is it a good thing that a huge company like Selfridges is trying to promote diversity – even if I think they could have done in a slightly better way?

What do you think of the #beautyproject? Do you think it is diverse enough?

The non-tattooed “tattooed” servers at the event:

Would You Get Tattooed Here?

WARNING. SOME PEOPLE MAY FIND THIS PICTURE OFFENSIVE.

 

 

 


 

 

 

This is a real piece of promotional material for a real German tattoo studio! The Things&Ink ladies picked this up on their recent travels to the Frankfurt Tattoo Convention.

Would you get tattooed here?

On seeing this for the first time I was horrified, I mean what the fuck is it?

This flyer is everything that tattooing is not. To an outsider who does not have any ink, or has never set foot in a tattoo shop this image would most definitely put them off, without a doubt!

The suggestion of rape, violence and sexual degradation are disgusting and shocking. The woman is in real pain, not merely from the tattoo, but from being held down and having her hair brutally pulled. Not to mention the unhygienic conditions, where is his other glove?

The tattooist is enjoying his predatory role, taking delight in her vulnerable position. Is this image supposed to be pornographically sexy? Are they trying to glamorise tattoos in some way by suggesting that tattooed women are promiscuous and punishable? I am speechless!

Tattoos are not a form of torture; they should not be performed on a non consenting individual. They are an expression of art, personality and free choice.

The star and Buddhist logo contradict the whole set up, I doubt very much that the woman is on a journey to enlightenment.

The tattoo shop’s stand at The Frankfurt Tattoo Convention

Identity – Portraits | Modification | Adornment. An exhibition

Artwork by Susanna Widmann

 

We are very pleased to announce our upcoming exhibition ‘Identity – Portraits | Modification | Adornment’ at Into You, London, in May 2014.

Launch party: Thursday 22 May from 7pm
Location: Into You, 144 St John St, London EC1V 4UA
Join the Facebook event, here.

 

Glimpse of a piece by Matt (Oddboy) Barratt-Jones 

 

The exhibition coincides with the launch of The Identity Issue – issue 7 of Things & Ink magazine and celebrates the work of tattooists, photographers and artists. Each piece is the artist’s interpretation of the theme – no restrictions or limitations. This collection, curated by the team at Things&Ink, is varied, exciting and thought-provoking.

Identity means something different to us all, and this collection of original artwork and photography – and The Identity Issue of Things&Ink magazine  – explores the way our identities can be informed by the world around us and what we choose to do with our bodies.

There will be work from:
Alex Binnie 
Araceli 4ever
Andrea Furci 
Axa Shireen
Aimee Cornwell 
Antony Flemming
Clare Goldilox
Delphine Noiztoy
Duncan X 
Joao Bosco 
Matt (Oddboy) Barratt-Jones 
Susanna Widmann
Wendy Pham
Ramon Maiden
Luke Garwood
Heather Shuker
And a selection of artists from Into You Brighton and London. 

The Chin Women of Myanmar, by photographer Luke Garwood
Ma Apoi aged 66

 

Come and join us to celebrate the launch and view the entire exhibition on Thursday 22 May from 7pm, Into You, 144 St John St, London EC1V 4UA. The exhibition will run for three months from that date.

The exhibition has been curated by the team at Things&Ink magazine

Tattooed Seniors Rock

“But what’s it gonna look like when you get old?”

Does the fear of saggy skin ever put you off getting tattooed?

We definitely have no fear…

Photos from policymic.com, view by clicking the link.

The Mechanical Circus, London, Easter Bank Holiday Weekend

We know what we’re doing this Easter weekend…

Our friends Electric Empire have joined forces with Carousel to bring you an epic party this Easter bank holiday – The Mechanical Circus at Electric Brixton, London. The event combines spectacular circus acts, burlesque and creative performance with outstanding music and production. 

The Mechanical Circus

Step into a steampunk world, dance the night away, be astounded by feats of human physicality and wowed by wonderful magicians – it will be a night like no other… and the perfect Easter weekend hangout.

Musical lineup:

✲ SAVANT (UK Debut)
♚ PLUMP DJS 
☣ ELITE FORCE
✲ THE PETEBOX
♛ ODJBOX & SLAMBOREE SOUND SYSTEM
☢ DUTTY MOONSHINE
✌ DODGY STYLE
And the host for the night is BASS6

Visual delights:

✣ SUPER SPECIALIST WORLD CLASS CIRCUS ACTS
✩ FIRE PERFORMERS
✮ SPECTACULAR LASER SHOW
✣ CABARET
✷ BURLESQUE
✲ STILT WALKERS
✼ ACROBATS
❈ MAGIC
✳ IMMERSIVE THEATRE

This magical event takes place on Saturday 19 April at Electric Brixton, London. Get the date in your diaries now and purchase tickers from, wegottickets. Join the party on Facebook too. See you there? The Things&Ink team will definitely be there too…

Here’s some photos form pervious Electric Empire parties:

Photographer: Maximillian Webster 
Performance: Chivaree Circus