A Little Thing Called Art

(Photo by Kristine Louise Andrade)

 by JERSON ELMIDO

and FEBRIELYN TUMINES

Some people live on strings, they’re called musicians. Some other impress through graceful hopping, they’re called ballerinas. Few people express through ink blots on skin called tattoo, and we call them drug pushers, ex-convicts and worst, forsaken- children-of-God. 

It’s long been known, social stigma on tattooed persons existed, ridiculed in the 21st century as dirty bastards. That whenever we pass by them, we thought of saying”Oh come on, get some decent life man!” Ex-convicts, criminals, black sheeps, drug addicts, warfreaks, drunken masters are some of the awful nouns branded to this group of people.

The Face Off

“Art should never be misled with simple filthiness.” Take it from Cris Louie Antig, 22, of Sergeant Ink Tattoo, an expert in tattoo art. “Tattoo is a self expression of passion or love for art. Art is everyday life”, he continued. He was recently the winner during the Metal Ink Tattoo Expo held in PNB Multi purpose hall last March this year. 

The Vanishing

Like extinction of dragonflies in meadows, tattoo culture has been slowly dying especially in Panay. Tattoo was first documented by the European Spanish explorers as they landed among the Islands in the late 16th century. But even before exploration it was a prevalent tradition among the islands.  Tattoo, according to history have been a symbol of rank and accomplishments because it was attained by accomplishing a task, or passage of rites. It was also seen to be a form of beauty for tribal women.

(Photo by Kristine Louise Andrade)

The Stereotype Breaker

We should respect each other in terms of self expression. Social stigma on tattooed persons should be broken and recycled into a new idea that tattoo is a form of art, innate in our culture. So instead of feeling outrageous about it, we should respect it, for part of the tattoo artist’s life is bonded in every ink blot like a poet in his sonnets. “Every tattoo has its story to tell, every design its purpose or deeper meaning and at most, a very mutual connection to the lives of the bearer,” Cris added.

The Skin Deep

Tattoo art is never an easy thing. It’s not like sketching on your pad and if something goes wrong, you can erase it anyways. Cris, before taking tattoo art as a career, spent times of intensive research on tattoo culture, the technical aspects and vivid details of the rules or mechanics. Though he wasn’t able to finish his degree in Architectural Drafting in Western Visayas College of Science and Technology, two years and talent made him pursue his artistic goal despite the pending threat of lack of degree due to financial matters.

“True Tattoo art are from artists, that’s what we’re here for. Filthy art are those from prisoners experimenting another prisoner’s skin, looking like a surgeon who finished his degree in medicine,” Cris smiled while saying. Get the point? Art comes when we desire it so much from the deepest of our selves. Our need to express it in forms we find it beautiful, not from things that was supposed to be a joke.

The Sketchpad

(Photo by Kristine Louise Andrade)

Since tattoo art is a very delicate form of art because it involves the human skin as the sketchpad, as an artist, risks are carried in their shoulders. Cris proudly declared, “We have everything in here disposable from the needles to the gloves and we have here a sterilizer. We should have everything clean for our customers. Why? Because it’s art not rubbish!” There are different types of tattoo designs, categorized as Oriental, Biochemical, Modern, Old School, Religious, etc. According to Cris, the most common or the best-seller is the Oriental, since many are attracted to Japanese style especially most of them idolize Yakuza. Age brackets from 20-40 years old, males especially, are the group who were commonly his customers. Below eighteen customers are not accepted.

Before the application of tattoo, he makes sure to check the blood pressure, whether the customer has diabetes and it is customary for Cris to interrogate the customer about the purpose why they want to be tattooed, the story behind their chosen design or its connection to their lives in order to avoid future regrets. For permanent tattoo, the customers are always reminded that it will last forever, so before it’s too late to change mind, they can choose to back out or go, but of course formal appointment should be scheduled by texting or calling Cris.

The Ink Blot

Yes, it’s not like what you think about tattoo artists, that they destroy lives, destroy flawless skins, antagonists and just sketch nonsense figures on somebody’s arm, then take the receipt and have a goodnight sleep.

They’re like producers who make sure that their art is appreciated and somehow it changed a life in the name of art. They also love their masterpieces like their own babies they never want to go astray.

Tattoos can be henna or permanent. Henna tattoo fades in a matter of one week or less. It is drawn by the use of a henna applicator. Permanent tattoo on the contrary, as long as it’s taken care of, lasts forever. It is applied through needles or a machine as what Cris called it, rotary tattoo machine. Its healing period is three weeks and can be one week for allergic skin types. Costs may vary in size and color. The more color and larger, the heavier the cost. Cris have been a tattoo artist for almost five years now, his permanent tattoo has a minimum price of P1500 for black and P2500 for colored. But of course prices may go up for more vivid and customized design that suits you.

When a violinist draws a bow across one or more strings by plucking, it creates a sound called music. When a dancer hops elegantly against the friction of the air, it’s called ballet. When an artist drafts an image through an ink blot, it’s not called diabolic symbol, ticket to hell or the like. It’s tattoo- a little thing called art.