Tattoo spotting, as well as tattoo shopping…favourite tattoos of the weekend.
Spotted and snapped by guest blogger Olivia Snape
Get your tat out – London Tattoo Convention special
London Tattoo Convention First – first day of filming
20,000 or more visitors are expected to attend this weekend’s International London Tattoo Convention at Tobacco Dock in Wapping. The halls of the warehouse have become a fantastical world of tattoo parlours, tattoo museums, fashion boutiques, a rockabilly club and performance stages.
And I have been lucky enough to film and report the action for Zeitgeist magazine…
Friday 23 September – Day one of filming
It is easy to spot the convention goers from the moment we arrive at Shadwell station, a trilby, a pin-up style head scarf…and of course lots of beautifully decorated skin – wonderfully out of context on the streets of Shadwell. I wait for the rest of the film crew to arrive (the boys from Papercut Pictures and Olivia Snape) with a cup of coffee and a cheese toastie, and wonder what the day will hold.
Thinking we are organised, we arrive at the gates at 10.30am ready to get inside and start arranging film times. We are clearly not as eager as a lot of art enthusiasts and a queue is steadily building outside the main gates. I am in awe, amazed by the inkings and body modifications that adorn the skin of these art collectors.
Even though the convention is not yet open, when we get inside there is already a buzz as the artists set up their equipment for a day of tattooing. We have a list of the artists we need to see and arrange suitable times in their busy schedules for them to speak to us on camera about their particular take on the art form. From traditional Samoan done by hand, to antique victoriana and old-school American.
Many of the artists have travelled the world to work at the convention and while it can be easy to put ‘tattoos’ in one category, the convention truly illustrates the variety of styles and traditions in the history of the art form, as they are all there to see in the maze of Tobacco Dock.
Our first day of filming was stressful, but amazing and we spoke to some of the world’s leading tatooers: Pili Mo’o, Ryan from Scapegoat tattoo, Jo Harrison, Steve Vinall and Michelle and Amanda from Daredevil tattoo NYC.
I won’t tell you what they had to say though, as the short films will be on Zeitgeist very soon. I can’t wait to go back today and speak to some more artists, including Uncle Allan (who I LOVE!) let’s hope he gives me a sneaky tattoo while I interview him.
Hope to see some of you there again today…
Cosmopolitan blog awards
I feel extremely honoured to be shortlisted for a Cosmo Blog Award, in the Lifestyle section.
I have been writing about tattoos for a number of years now and I would love to see an alternative blog, such as Th’ink, be a winner in a fashion-dominated world.
As tattoos gain increasing currency in contemporary culture, my blog mimics the chic aspirations of girls just like me. Those who use tattoos as a way of expressing themselves, but are not necessarily completely covered, and see the beauty of the art from and the sub-cultures surrounding it.
Tattoos are becoming more fashionable, I am here to make sure people get good tattoos and think before they ink themselves for life. If you have read my blog, enjoyed it and agree with the messages I stand for, please vote for Th’ink and help me put good tattoo art in the heart of fashion culture.
Vote here… www.cosmopolitan.co.uk/blog-awards-2011-vote
Get your tat out – Sylwia Swiderska
I spotted this lovely lady in Topshop the other day, she is definitely my new tattoo crush, plus it turns out that we want to get tattooed by lots of the same people! Check out her beautiful ink…
Feature girl: Sylwia Swiderska
Location: live in London, from Poland
Occupation: student, Events, Music and Media Management at London Metropolitan University
Stay Young I don’t think there was a particular event or situation that got me into tattoos, but I’ve always been really into music. People within the genre I was into had tattoos, so I guess that’s what started it all. My first tattoo was ‘Stay Young’ on my wrist.
My wrists and foot were done at Riverside Tattoo in Gravesend by Les. Lady with the mirror is by Snappy at King’s Cross Tattoo Parlour. The rest of my sleeve is by Oliver Macintosh, also at Kings Cross
Lady with a mirror I’m definitely planning on getting more stuff done, I’ve got a long list of artists that I would like to get tattooed by, but being a student money is always an issue.
Inspired by 'Sweet#Hart' by Closure in Moscow I think my favourite is the scales on my inner arm, the inspiration came from a song called ‘Sweet#Hart’ by Closure in Moscow. It’s about balancing out, thinking with your head and thinking with your heart, which is something I’m awful at so it’s a constant reminder not to let one outweigh the other.
Let hate save you The scales have a pretty srong meaning. Girl with the mirror is a reminder to never judge people on their looks. ‘Stay Young’ is pretty self explanatory. ‘Let Hate Save You’, on my foot from a song by Emarosa is there as a reminder that if anything or anyone ever lets you down you might aswell hate it instead of letting it get to you (this last one makes me sound awful haha).
Beautiful tattoos and a very interesting interview. Lovely to meet you Sylwia and I LOVE your tattoos.
London Tattoo Convention excitement
The seventh International London Tattoo Convention, now the most important and crowded convention in the world, will be held over the weekend of September 23/24/25 (NEXT WEEKEND, CANNOT WAIT) at Tobacco Dock. This year, the organisers are opening up even more areas, rooms and attractions than ever before, to meet the public’s inexorably increasing interest in body art.
I am excited to announce that I will be reporting from the event for Zeitgeist magazine, with the help of Papercut Pictures. Article and short film to follow, watch this space…
In the meantime here is a selection of photos from last year’s event.
