World Tattoo Arts Festival and Exhibition

[limbo]

Fine art

 

11/02/2006

 

The first ever World Tattoo Arts Festival and Exhibition in Thailand kicked off yesterday with hundreds turning out, from devoted tattoo fans to the just plain curious, to see the work of dozens of international artists.

 

 

The three-day festival at the BEC Tero Hall in Suan Lum Night Bazaar has brought together local tattoo artists and those from the region, Europe and North America, many of whom are more than willing to do work on anyone who wants himself decorated.

 

Jimmy Wong, an organiser of the festival and a local master with nearly 35 years of experience, said the strong turnout was expected given the popularity of the art.

 

?Tattooing is very hot. People are now more open to it,? he said. ?Designs, equipment, everything is changing. There are lots of new ideas.?

 

Attitudes towards tattooing have evolved, and this is in no small part due to the recognition that it is an art form with a long tradition in many cultures, he said.

 

But determining why someone gets a tattoo, or covers their body in them, is no simple task.

 

Clare Keton, an Australian artist of 11 years, said it all came down to personal reasons.

 

?I can only say what appeals to me about tattoos. For some it?s because it means something specific to them, for others it?s because they like the design. It?s marking your skin permanently, so it?s not for everyone,? she said.

 

The festival includes regular contests, with awards for best tattoo of the day, best traditional Thai- or Japanese-style tattoo, best ?old-school? tattoo and tattoo artist of the year.

 

For Bt100 visitors can enter a contest to win a Bt200,000 tattoo from world-class Norwe-gian artist Per Kristian. En-trants have to describe their dream tattoo and why they want it, with the winner selected from those judged to have the best reason. ?The idea is for a campaign where people really think about what they want, so they get a tattoo that means something,? Kristian said.

 

Chris Vedelago

 

The Nation