Tattoo

The extraordinary rise of Japan's unlikely tattoo hero
Culture

The extraordinary rise of Japan's unlikely tattoo hero

The art of intimacy — Horiren 1st is one of the world’s most sought-after tattoo artists, celebrated for keeping the ancient Japanese method of Tebori alive. But in a country where body art is considered taboo, her journey to the top hasn’t been easy.

Written by: Michael Magers

The architect who threw it all away to become a tattoo artist
Culture

The architect who threw it all away to become a tattoo artist

How to make it on your own — Silvia Castro Pérez pursued her dream job as an architect in Spain until it felt like a creative dead-end. Then she moved to Berlin and taught herself how to tattoo, opening up a new world of creative possibility.

Written by: Alex King

Dark, twisted rituals: The artist using human skin as his canvas
Art

Dark, twisted rituals: The artist using human skin as his canvas

Body of Reverbs — Oozing fetishism and violence, Michele Servadio’s strange tattooing rituals are being performed around the world; creating spectacles that fuse art, music, and exorcism.

Written by: Jonas Henmo

The Virginia tattoo artist transforming lives by inking over scars
Culture

The Virginia tattoo artist transforming lives by inking over scars

Tat for Tit — Amy Black’s tattoo parlour in Richmond, Virginia helps clients with scars from illness or surgery reclaim their bodies with needles and ink.

Written by: Ryan Mcmeekin

Why I'm giving my customers Planned Parenthood themed tattoos
Activism

Why I'm giving my customers Planned Parenthood themed tattoos

From Where I Stand — One Brooklyn-based, immigrant-run tattoo parlour is transforming bodies into spaces of protest for freedom of choice in the age of Trump, raising cold hard cash for Planned Parenthood in the process.

Written by: Burak Moreno, Fleur Noire Tattoo Parlour

A brief history of the British tattoo
Culture

A brief history of the British tattoo

How we got inked — From high class beginnings to the myths of inked up criminals, as a new exhibition opens in Cornwall, tattoo historian Dr Matt Lodder plots out a history of British body art.

Written by: Michael Segalov

Under the skin of Britain's facial tattoo community
Photography

Under the skin of Britain's facial tattoo community

The people beneath the ink — Mark Leaver's photography project looks at facial tattoos; a misunderstood and stereotyped group, already a niche within a subculture.

Written by: Alex King

The NYC doctor changing lives by removing gang tattoos for free
Culture

The NYC doctor changing lives by removing gang tattoos for free

From teardrops, swastikas and gang insignia to fresh starts — Dr David Ores is on a quest to change lives by removing bad tattoos from former gang members, ex-convicts and victims of human trafficking - free of charge.

Written by: Alfred Rinaldi

The Scandinavian tattoo shop handpoking black humour
Art

The Scandinavian tattoo shop handpoking black humour

Deepwood Tattoo — Chris Magnusson of Deepwood Tattoo talks DIY tattoo guns and getting paid to draw stupid things in Northern Europe.

Written by: Joshua Gabert-Doyon

Artist Clayton Patterson on 20 years of the tattoo fair that changed Europe
Art

Artist Clayton Patterson on 20 years of the tattoo fair that changed Europe

Two decades of Wildstyle — When Wildstyle began in 1995, European tattoo culture was barely visible. Rebel artist and photographer Clayton Patterson explains how two decades of touring with Wildstyle has helped win the culture the respect it deserves.

Written by: Clayton Patterson

Sign up to our newsletter

Issue 81: The more than a game issue

Buy it now