Let your skin speak

If you thought tattoos were meant for gangsters, bikers and wearers of boho chic, think again. As the city's fifth international tattoo convention kicks off, Janice Fung writes why even regular people might want to get inked.

A sailboat carrying his mother's initials is inscribed on Calvin Chao's left chest. The boat is girdled by the bracelet she used to wear. The image also shows playing cards - spade, heart, diamond and club. For Chao, 20, each card represents an unforgettable memory of the times shared with his mother. When he looks down at the heart symbol, Chao remembers being woken up from sleep and being served breakfast cooked by his mother every morning. The diamond reminds him of how as a rebellious teenager he would fight with his mother when she ordered him to cut off his long, thick hair.

"I want to commemorate my mum and carry her spirit with me in my life's journey," Chao explained. After his mother passed away, Chao was filled with regrets about not having been a particularly filial son. So he decided to make amends. His mother had wished Chao to study abroad. So Chao signed up for a study program overseas. Just before leaving for his new school Chao thought he would get himself inked. By carrying an image loaded with her memory close to his heart, Chao believed his mother would be something of a guiding spirit, helping him to find his way in an unfamiliar country.

The first lot of people to sport tattoos in Hong Kong were probably the gangsters. And then came a time when getting inked was cool. Nowadays people are doing it often as a token of love.

Gordon To, a 34-year-old father, said he got himself inked for "remembrance's sake" rather than "just for fun". "In the past, most young people would get a tattoo without caring much for its meaning. A bunch of friends would all get inked sometimes, just for fun. But nowadays if I decide to get a tattoo I would want it to have a meaning that can represent my identity." Gordon's latest tattoo is a replica of a drawing by his child. It's meant to remind him of the stirrings of creativity in his child in the years to come.

When his grandfather died a few years after his mother, Chao got the images of the departed man's favorite potted plant and a soldier cap inked on his left arm. "Grandpa had spent his whole life tending to this plant, but it never bloomed until the day he died. That's so ironic," Chao said.

His grandfather used to be a soldier and was very proud of his identity as one. He would wear the soldier's cap to major events. So it had to be the most representative symbol of his identity for Chao who got the tattoo done in Taiwan.

Unlike in Taiwan, where they have a relatively evolved tattoo culture, in Hong Kong tattoo has caught on only in this decade, says Chao. But then Hong Kong's tattoo artists too have opportunities to show their art through exhibitions and social media nowadays, he adds.

Growing trend

Hong Kong might have arrived relatively late to the party but tattooing may not be just a mere fad in this city. Last year the fourth Hong Kong China International Tattoo Convention drew 23,000 people over three days - the largest number in any such convention anywhere else in the world (Paris, which is a well-known destination for tattoo fans and holds the record for the second-largest turnout, drew only 12,000).

Evidently tattooing is increasingly being seen as a form of art. Those sporting a tattoo are seen to be making lifestyle statements, worthy of respect.

"Real gangsters don't get tattooed anymore. They wear suits like gentlemen," says Gabe Shum, the founder-director of the city's leading tattoo parlor, Freedom Tattoo - the hosts of the city's only international tattoo convention. "Tattoo is not exclusive to gangsters. From what I've observed in these years, a large number of professionals and high-status people ask to get tattooed."

Jill Vidal, a local singer, feels the attitudinal shift - from seeing tattoo-wearers as slightly dubious types to treating them as regular, even cool, people - is, to a large extent, linked to the growth of social media. "Superstars like Justin Bieber and Rihanna have many tattoos and they're forever being complimented on these. Many people, especially those who are young, want to follow their idols and look cool," says Vidal.

Carol Leung and Haylie Wong, the owners of the tattoo parlor Girl's Tattoo, said much older women often stopped them on the street to admire the tattoos they wore. Those unfamiliar with the tattoo scene, says the duo, often find it slightly shocking that tattoos could be multi-colored and the patterns feminine. "Tattoo designs have become a thing of beauty nowadays," said Leung.

Wong has introduced certain new tattooing techniques in Hong Kong recently. One of them is called "Half-eternity Tattoo". The method followed is similar to the technique used to giving body to very light eyebrows. Such a tattoo will not last more than three years. Understandably, this is a technique which has found much favor with those who won't want the tattoo to last forever but are getting inked more out of curiosity.

Erasing prejudices

While the Hong Kong tattoo industry seems headed towards big growth, it will take a while for the prejudices held against body art to disappear completely.

"Stereotypes and discrimination against those who wear tattoos still persist," said Chao. His father was dead against the idea of Chao getting inked as he thought it was only a fad befitting teenagers. He also remembers being eyed with suspicion by teammates and the coach on the basketball court.

To help people get a more informed idea about what tattooing entails, an exhibition about its history, techniques and procedures is being held at the Fifth Hong Kong China International Tattoo Convention which opens today.

"Education is essential to correct the stereotyped notions held towards tattooing," says Shum.

"We have to educate people to love each other without judgment. One should not judge people by appearance," says Vidal.

In her music video, called Tattoo, she is shown to fall in love with a heavily-tattooed man. It's her message to "love without judgment".

As for Chao, every time he looks down at his tattoos, it feels good to think he did it out of devotion to his family. He says the memory of his dear departed ones also inspires him to be and do good. "I don't care about what others have to say about these anymore," he grinned.

(HK Edition 09/29/2017 page10)