Han Qingpei
Chris Garver of Miami Ink fame poses casually for a photo, his face creased into his trademark laidback grin. A young lady strolls by, her eye-catching hot pink dreadlocks bouncing, as the multiple piercings on her face glitter under the harsh fluorescent lights. A small Asian man stands stoically in his Calvin Klein loincloth, nonchalant as the crowd clamors to take snapshots of his extensively tattooed derrière.WElla
Not your usual people sightings in sunny Singapore, but these were just 3 examples of the fascinating individuals gathered at the Singapore Expo, on a January weekend.
They were here for the widely anticipated first Singapore Tattoo Show 2009, touted to be the biggest tattoo convention ever organised in South East Asia, with 100 international exhibitors hailing from 25 different countries all over the world.
The show boasted of world-renowned artists such as USA’s Paul Booth and Bob Tyrrell , highly respected Thai Buddhist Elder Reverend Ar Jahn Tong, and, of course, the immensely popular Chris Garver – who inspired long snaking queues as fans waited patiently for their turn to get a picture with the tattoo master himself.
“There are just so many people everywhere, from everywhere, it’s crazy,” laughs Elwen Ceng, 32, a tattoo enthusiast, “ I came here to look at the tattoos, but ended up spending more time looking at all the different people around instead.”
Indeed over the weekend, the Singapore Tattoo Show 2009 was the hottest place to see and be seen. People from all walks of life, races and nationalities flocked to the Expo, proudly exhibiting themselves and their intricate body artwork even while taking in what was showcased at the show.
Even the exhibitors were an interesting sight to behold, clad in clothes that showed off their extensive tattoos and piercings and sporting out-of-this-world hairstyles.
“ These are sights you won’t see every day, of course I have to take pictures,” Ceng remarked about the digital camera he was wielding.
It appeared that the throngs echoed his sentiments. Almost all the visitors came prepared with their trusty cameras, whipping them out ever so often to capture whatever caught their eyes.
If checking out the tattoos was the main objective of the convention’s visitors, then surely their second aim was to leave with as many pictures as they could.
Surprisingly, everyone was just as obliging to have their photos taken as well. Random strangers would smile and pose, sometimes graciously adjusting their clothes to allow photographers a better snapshot of their tattoos, and the exhibitors would even occasionally stop in their work just to look up into the cameras.
Along with the tattoo booths, there was also a large range of other activities available. Visitors were kept busy observing the live tattoo demonstrations and sympathising with the “victim’s” pained grimaces; rooting for their favourite exhibitors in the daily tattoo competitions and even cheering on remote control cars’ in drifting races.
“It’s great how the show is held in conservative Singapore. It shows that we are now more and more open to tattoos, and I hope one day the stereotype that tattoos are only for gangsters will be completely eliminated,” commented Viviana Ng, 22, an undergraduate.
” I had so much fun with my friends, just taking pictures and looking at all the tattoo designs. Some of the tattoo artists themselves were very ‘nice’ to look at too,” she noted.
The Singapore Tattoo Show 2009, with its avant-garde tattoo artists and intriguing visitors is certainly well worth the trip down and the $18 ticket price – especially if one is looking to appreciate some truly unconventional art influenced by cultures from all over the world.
Unfortunately, the 3-day event has since ended, but fret not tattoo fans; judging from the smashing success this year, there is already huge anticipation for the Singapore Tattoo Show 2010. Should that come to pass, this Urbanwire reporter will definitely come ready and well prepared; with a camera fully charged in her pocket.