Stories we wear on our skin
Elvia Iannaccone Gezlev is a tattooer and photographer based in New York. Her current exhibition showcasing a a selection of portraits and nudes of tattooed people, artists, musicians and personalities, is on display at Sena Tattoo in Soho, NYC until 3rd June. The exhibition of tattoos and people mostly from the 90s to present day is also available as an ebook .
Philip Rhys Matthews is a London based photographer who explores world events and issues within his work. He mixes fine art and fashion photography styles to create stunning portraits and scenes. Philip also shot The Anatomy Issue (Things&Ink issue 11) cover with tattoo artist Cally-Jo.
His new collection ‘Critical Mass’ discusses how the growing population is depleting the world’s resources and draining everything that Earth has to offer.
Oil
Balance
The Spring
Supernation
Tattoo artist Santa Perpetua creates impressively abstract tattoos in her private studio in Brighton. We chat to Santa about how her tattoos tell stories and how her career started…
How long have you been tattooing and how did you start? I think art has been part of my life since I was born. My mother is an artist too, and she basically introduced me into this world. I grew up with art books, pencils and brushes around, art museums were my playground and drawing was my first way to connect with myself. But my interest in the tattoo industry started a while after that. It began when I got my first tattoo piece done in my home town: Montevideo. By that time I was 21, but I didn’t immerse myself in that world until 10 years later. A bad economic situation at that moment, my university studies, my current job as a designer and photographer, my passion for drawing, moving to Spain and some other personal circumstances made the task of starting to tattoo a bit difficult.
So although I really was into the idea of becoming a tattoo artist, I had to postpone it for a while. It became possible when I finally got settled in Barcelona and since 2008 I’ve been developing myself in the profession. Strange as it might sound, I didn’t like tattoos before. I got my first piece done in the early 90s and the level of tattooing was not as good as it is today.
But for some reason, I felt the need to record a permanent memory on my skin, so I made a really simple, silly, too small and too detailed for its size design and I went for it! When I was sat in the tattoo chair, I had a very primitive introduction to tattooing and I completely felt in love with it! I always liked to try different media to make my drawings, and tattooing was another one of them. When finallyI was able to start, I knew immediately that tattooing would be part of my life for good. Since I started I’ve never stopped learning, creating and loving this profession.
Your style is incredibly abstract, how would you describe it? Well, I don’t think we should label things in art. From my view, art allows the emotional expression of the artist to become real. My pieces could fall into abstraction, avant garde, conceptual, graphic art, contemporary tattooing. But if I had to describe them, I’d say that my artworks are just my personal approach to things. I always tell stories that are beyond a particular situation or representation. I love speaking about life, death, and emotions through my artwork. If someone comes to my studio asking to have a bird done, I always ask why they have chosen a bird. I am interested in the motivations behind the tattoo rather than the elements of it. My intention is to build a solid idea, as timeless and universal as possible rather that making just a “pretty” or “cool” image on the skin. I know it might sound a bit ambitious, but my approach to tattooing is more artistic than aesthetic.
Are you inspired by any artists? I am mad about the Dark Ages. I absolutely love that time in history. I get inspiration from the way in which art and artists were conceived – the artistic expression is divine and the artist is just a tool to represent it. But beyond that, and even admiring lots of tattoo colleagues, I mainly get my inspiration from dreaming, and also from music and painting. The list of artists on both branches is pretty long and super varied. But summing up, I’d say that everything that is well made catches my attention.
Would do you like to tattoo? Do you have a wish list of designs? After 10 years of working as a tattoo artist, and almost five years doing it in the UK, I could happily say that I have reached the point in which I do exactly what I want to do. It has been a super thorny path to achieve, but today people tend to give me free reign on all my designs. Thanks to this I’ve managed to evolve technically and artistically. Every tattoo project I take is a challenge that pushes me to improve and do my best with it, and that is extremely pleasant to me. I do not have a wish list of designs, but I do have the wish to carry on being blessed with people who connect with my artwork and trust their skin in my hands. I am immensely grateful for that.
24-year-old Alexis Lucena is a performer with Company XIV and recording artist from Long Island, New York. We chatted to Lexxe about her performances, how her tattoos mix with ballet and her future plans…
How long have you been dancing and singing? I think whenever music was on I had the itch to move to it from a very young age. My mom put me into dance when I was about three. I joined a professional academy when I was seven, stayed until graduating high school, then went on to get my BFA from the Purchase Conservatory. Singing was always indulgent for me, and ballet took up all my time. I played classical French horn for about 11 years in grade school. I taught myself guitar so I could sing along to Stevie Nicks. I think I’ve always had a deep appreciation for music. After graduating college I felt like I was getting older and not doing exactly what I wanted. I saw a concert and it all snapped into place- I called up music friends the next day and have been singing and writing ever since, this was in 2016.
How do you feel when you’re performing? Performing is such an incredible experience for me. Growing up dancing to these beautiful classical pieces and being able to embody the music was bliss. There’s something about sharing that moment with people you hardly know, showing them something they’ve never seen before- is magic to me. When I’m singing it’s even more exciting, because it’s way more vulnerable. I’m using my voice as an instrument. I primarily sing original music- so on top of using my voice I’m using my words and they are often deeply personal. Recently I caught someone singing along who knew the lyrics and just that one moment will resonate with me for a long time. I get the chills listening to good music, and performing to it. If I can share that experience with people if only for a moment then my life is complete.
Which do you love doing more, singing or dancing and why? This is a difficult question! If I had to choose, right now, it’s singing. I’ve danced more than half of my life, I’ve earned my 10,000 hours. It’s complete bliss, but at the moment I’ve been discovering different parts of my voice, different tones. And it’s really exciting. This morning I just got back to NY after recording in Seattle. I’m working on my EP, and I’ve been in a studio all day everyday for the past couple days. I’m so proud of the work I’m doing, I love everything, especially hard rock, but I’m a pop star at heart. I make music I can dance to, and when I dance the music moves me. It’s mostly just about that. And hey, I’m a REAL dancer. You can 100% expect me to throw down some choreography in my videos. No shade. But I’d love to bring back some REAL dancing- Madonna, Kate Bush, Lady Gaga Paula Abdul type dancing to the scene again.
Can you tell us about your tattoos? I’ve always been fascinated by tattoos. On my mom’s old computer there’s a secret folder of all traditional tattoos, that I planned on getting when I moved out and graduated. When I turned 18, I still wanted them but I was still en route to audition for broadway, the amount of tattoos I wanted is pretty much unacceptable.
The past two years I’ve met two primary artists that really helped me shape the art I’ve been wanting to have (Krista Olofsson and Jesús Arancibia). Almost all of my tattoos (née- a brilliant stick and poke done by fellow dancer and artist Krista Morgensen) are traditional. I can appreciate good realism, but to me I believe that the best tattoos are traditional. The ink sits better, the contrast against the skin is aesthetically beautiful – and honestly all the gothic reapers, roses skulls, are more my forte. I’m obsessed with Edgar Allen Poe and gothic literature. I have too many roses and I will probably not stop getting them ever. I’ve cultivated my body, like it’s a painting and I love it more everyday.
What sorts of reactions do your tattoos get? Initially- when I showed up to the college dorms with my first real piece , I was met with shock, but not surprise. Now a days, it took some getting used to on my family’s end but I’ve been pretty accepted. I think it’s because the quality of my work is incredible. I waited to find the right artists, and in turn I have artwork that I can look at everyday and fall in love with. My boyfriend is supportive and definitely helped to link me up with artists I needed to meet. Right now I barely have any color, but I have a theme of black and this morbid blue as a highlight on my arm that Krista started and it’s literally amazing.
I have really awesome music coming out on Control Records with William Control (formerly of Aiden). That’ll be out very soon. With music I could tattoo whatever I want and people wouldn’t care. It’s completely different than the reactions I get after the shows with Company XIV. There’s definitely some glances from the older generation, and it’s frustrating because I’m a professional artist- I don’t like to be not taken seriously. But at the end of the day I love my work and I’m proud of it – that’s all that matters. My body’s my temple and I hung a shit ton of awesome paintings in it.
Have your tattoos ever stopped you from getting parts or helped you to? They haven’t because I sort of removed myself from that scene when I decided it was time to be myself. I stopped auditioning for broadway shows. I was asked when I tattooed my hand if I was sure, and I was. I want to live my life as an individual. I have no plan b. I will not work a job that does not accept me.
After realizing this, I sent in my info for a company I’d auditioned for three times before. My dream company as a dancer – Company XIV. Would you believe that at around 8pm tonight I hit the stage for them for my 26th performance of their Cinderella? Austin the director is so open to culture and different styles of beauty. He’s cultivated an incredible place for us to be ourselves. I asked him if I could dye half my head black and he was confused as to why I even asked – it’s that kind of support I’ve always needed to be the best version of myself. I came in with my hand tattoos and he was elated for me. I am very blessed. One time I stayed home from an XIV audition my senior year of college because I was feeling down on my body. If you could’ve told that girl she’d be in the company years later- she would’ve laughed in your face. I almost believe becoming myself got me my dream job. It’s some heavy stuff to think about.
How do tattoos and ballet mix? Tattoos an ballet right now, don’t really mix. Although now more than ever I do see tattoos on professional dancers more often. I can 100% understand the notion that such a classical art form should perhaps stay tattoo-less, but makeup these days is too incredible to let that be a hinderance. It’s totally realistic to cover up some tattoos for stage, I’ve done it. But If I’m being honest, I’m not sure how much I’d enjoy a tattooed Odette in Swan Lake. On the other hand, I love contrast. It’s part of who I am. This ballerina with a dark side. I’ve always been more of an Odile, the black swan- and honestly she’d look pretty sick with some sleeves.
Finger tattoos by Krista Olofsson
Do you have any future tattoo plans? I just got my fingers done, they are lovely. I coincidentally have heavily tattooed one side of my body. It’s the side where I have pink hair. I almost like it, because I am a living paradox, I’m heavily contrasted. I’ve always been attracted to the darker side of things. I’m very expressive. I plan on finishing my arm. I’ve been itching to get some more tradition depictions of artists I love. I’m looking to get a Lily Munster Marilyn Manson mashup. I’m absolutely obsessed with Frankenhooker, she’s getting on here somewhere. Oh! And more roses. Currently I’m not very interested in tattooing my chest. I just can’t see myself with it – maybe that’s the white swan in me.
Professional photos from shows are by New York photographer Mark Shelby Perry Other photos are by Tory Ruperto, Luke McAfee and Rathbunfotos.
27-year-old Darcie from Leeds, is a Content Executive for a Marketing Agency and founder of the blog Bound in Bone. We chat to Darcie about her style, living the goth life and what you can find on her blog…
What inspired you to start your blog and how long have you been running it? I’ve been blogging since November 2015. I didn’t really tell anyone about it for the first few months because I was nervous about what people would think! I started it because I wanted my own space to write my own stuff and not have any restrictions (apart from my own nervousness). I’d been working in marketing for three years at that point and while I was creating content for other people, I really wanted something that was my own. It was weird that I had created so much for other people and nothing for myself!
Does your day job help you with your blog, or vice versa? Yes, definitely. Keeping up to date with the industry means that I can be good at my job and be armed with the latest thinking to apply to my blog too. It also helps that I have people around me at work that can help me if I paint myself into a corner with SEO or when I’m liaising with a PR for my blog, for example.
What can readers expect to find on your platform? Gothy/witchy outfits, alternative lifestyle pieces and I’m hoping to write more about feminism as I get braver talking about the subject too!
How would you describe your style? What is your favourite outfit or go-to outfit? I can be quite eclectic in my style, but I would say it definitely errs on the gothy side of the “alternative” spectrum. I’m trying out more of a witchy style at the moment. I’m really inspired by the idea of the witch as a feminist icon.
I don’t really have a go-to outfit, but I do have certain pieces that make me feel like I can take on the world. My wide-brimmed hat, double-stacked doc martens and anything in faux leather are favourites.
What to you does it mean to live a goth life? Oooh I love this question! To me, it’s about channeling a darker aesthetic in your personal style or tastes, but it’s also about questioning mainstream society’s ideals. How can you decide to be “alternative” in the way you look and yet not “alternative” in the way you think? It means not accepting everything you’re fed through the media and coming up with your own thoughts and values. It means being open-minded and willing to listen and accept other people’s points of view.
Can you tell us about your tattoos? Do you have any future plans? I have three tattoos. I have an eye on the back of my neck, a pair of cat eyes on my forearm, and Beatles lyrics on my shoulder. My first was the Beatles lyrics, it’s actually a matching one with my best friend from school. When we were about 15 we would make videos in her bedroom. They were really silly because we were dorks (still are). On of the soundtracks was All You Need is Love. So that’s what I have tattooed. She has “love is all you need” on her foot.
The story behind my eye is based around The Illustrated Mum by Jacqueline Wilson. Even though she’s a very troubled lady in the book, I always saw her as beautiful, and I desperately wanted to have red hair and green eyes just like her. I wasn’t bothered by the tattoos at that point for some reason. She has loads of tattoos but one in particular that stays in my mind was an eye on the back of her neck, so that’s what I’ve got too.
The cat eyes are based around my first cat, Myrtle. I’m a cat person through and through so I wanted something to commemorate that!I would love to get more – I really want something on my chest (I’m torn between a snake or moon phases – I haven’t decided yet), I’d love something to do with Medusa, and I’d love finger tattoos too – I just need to decide what to do first!
Pay Darcie’s blog a visit to see more of her gothic style and feminist posts.
