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Vintage Mexico

August 7th, 1974 by admin

Vintage Mexico

Tattoo Artists in Oaxaca, Mexico: lawyer, graduated in Fine Arts with tattoo Make Strange Bedfellows

Alvin Starkman MA, LL.B.

Tattoos and Piercing Fund in Oaxaca, Mexico, through the eyes of a lawyer

Lawyer Kaireddyn (Kai) began Orta make their own tools, rudimentary tattooing in 1996 while still in high school here in Oaxaca, Mexico. One day a neighbor saw him a shoebox, and asked what was in it. Kai showed the engine adapted needles, ink and other accessories. The neighbor was the recipient of first tattoo Kai. Kai then started doing tattoos for their classmates.

Kai had been interested in tattoos (tattoos) and piercings (Drilling) around the house with pictures of prehistoric peoples who were accustomed to self-adornment. Kai ate.

However, during youth Kai, see tattoos on the meat was a rarity. Apart from the books and occasionally comes across a tattooed person on television, would only have an opportunity to see real people with tattoos and body piercings when he look at the tourists, mainly Americans and Europeans walking the streets of the city of Oaxaca, a mecca for international tourism.

The modern tradition of tattooing and body piercing had been established in countries like Canada, U.S., Spain and Britain, long before he arrived in Mexico. Like many emerging representations of subcultures, it takes more than a decade to catch up in Mexico, especially in the more isolated and conservative country like Oaxaca.

The state of Oaxaca, was largely isolated physically from the northern half of the country, and indeed

the wider world until the arrival of the Panamerican highway in children should be isolated from foreign students, and all that their subculture represented.

Jump to the 1990's. The change will begin to emerge in Oaxaca. Tattoos, piercings and other nontraditional forms of self-expression has begun to be perceived as dominant throughout the Western world. The silver screen and the promotion of its magazines and tattooed pierced stars had become commonplace. Oaxaca had to take notice. And that includes the previous generation, which was forced to recognize, if not accept the ritual behavior of their grandchildren (and to a much lesser extent, children) could not be equated with something devious, dirty and evil, simply because to modify their appearance through the hole and paint their bodies permanently. Many in the youth culture was becoming Oaxaca critical thinkers tattoos and body piercing artist, with his own studio, but much smaller than their current digs. And besides, most lawyers Oaxaca do not earn the income level that is expected lifestyle of middle class, at least by Western standards.

Current Kai Store Crespo Street in the heart of the city of Oaxaca, consists of:

The reception area with large desk and a computer, aquariums full of tropical fish, jewelry display cases, mainly in relation to body piercings, wood carvings and African masks floor (as well as a mask Mexican few), a shelf full of albums that contain pictures and photographs of tattoos on everything, and two comfortable sofas where guests can browse through the "specialist" in his spare time
A room decorated like half the cases of supply at this stage of course full of modern equipment, commercial and supplies, and a small adjoining shop
The back room, with chairs and table "operation" to attend to tattoos and body piercing

"Here in Oaxaca, we refer to ourselves as" artists, "said Kai." In the States there is much greater acceptance of the art form and who are dedicated to skill, so that in the U.S. and other countries like Canada that is acceptable to use the term "Tattoo artist. However, in Oaxaca, refers only to ourselves as a tattoo."

Kai Colleagues and participate in XII Annual Tattoo Festival in Oaxaca, Summer 2010

During the course of a 3 ½ hour interview in a study Kai, friends and fellow tattooists Mexico City, Daniel (tuna) and his girlfriend Angelica Larios (Angy) of Mora, in the workshop and otherwise serve customers, while for some of the time Kai was running errands.

Tuna has been a tattooist for 12 years, while Angy tattooing began a year ago, when she began living with tuna. Together they opened a shop in the capital. Before that Tuna had been doing tattoos for customers in other studies. It was introduced in trade for having his body tattooed. Angy learned the skill of tuna.

Angy But learning to be a tattoo artist was a natural extension. She already had a degree in fine arts at a university in Chihuahua, and has participated in several traditional collective art exhibitions. "But it's easier to make a living doing tattoos as an artist," admits Angy. Unlike Angy and Kai, Most tattoo artists in Mexico have no advanced training for other career options.

Tuna and had Angy to Oaxaca to participate in the XII Annual Tattoo Fest, held on August 21 and 22, 2010, a couple of days earlier. Kai is one of the three organizers of the festival, and was on the floor the concept, when the festival was held the first round in 1998. "Until this year the event was called Tattoo Expo," says Kai. "We decided to change the name to attract more foreigners. But in the early years was held expositions can meet to exchange ideas, improve access to modern equipment and supplies, and raise awareness of the Oaxacan community, so I hope there would be a greater acceptance of what we were doing. Now the objectives and functions of the event is much broader, as we are on track to achieve our goals sooner. "

The success of Oaxaca Tattoo Fest 2010 was evident from the crowds (hundreds for all estimates) and sales. Angy including tuna and had 11 tattoos on his two-day period. "I've been coming to the fair during the last four or five years," says the tuna, "but this is the first year you can really say it was worth my time, profit wise, to get to Oaxaca. You knew it had to close my shop in the city of Mexico to come here. I think this show has finally turned a corner. "

This year there were about thirty stands, about a dozen of which is devoted to tattooing. During a one-hour visit on Sunday, all the while every tattooist was busy working – and in many cases there were spectators in the queue waiting turn.

Many vendors had come from other parts of Mexico to participate. They met in Oaxaca, not only for tattoos and piercings, but also to sell a wide range of related materials, including:

Tattooing and body piercing equipment, supplies and other paraphernalia
CDs, DVDs and posters with themes of all the alternative media (Bob Marley and Alice Cooper live in Oaxaca)
Piercing body and other personal ornaments, wrestling masks, and clothing, as painted, while-u-wait.

The event was much more a sales opportunity for retailers, however. It is an opportunity for the company to promote their industry, source of prior art and those imported from other as equipment and supplies (as many tattoo artists do not come to Mexico City very often, and most imported machines, needles and paintings come first in Mexico City), and tattoo and piercing entertain collectors, fans, onlookers and the roof, all under the same, the Master Room situated opposite the famous market of Supplies of Oaxaca.

As Kai says, it seems that there are three kinds of people in Oaxaca, and probably in other countries who get tattoos:

The collection usually ends up filling most of his body, trying to decorate with the widest variety of designs as possible, or a particular kind of design or artistic (ie, demons, pre-Hispanic figures, animals, famous faces), often try to get the work done by various tattoo artists different than several states and countries one or two tattoos for personal expression or to make any statement, after seeing a tattoo that like either a celebrity, a friend or a stranger on the street, or choose to do a specific design, a tattoo of your favorite team's logo is an example of this type of work

Not unlike other hobbies and interests. Human nature remains the same. The first category represents an obsession with collection, as well as a popular ancient art class, salt and pepper, scales, and so on. The second is an enthusiast who sets limits, either design or unconsciously based on personality trait. The third is just selective thinking about it, regardless of all that is still considered a bit counter-culture in Oaxaca, there were:

Live entertainment including seven predominantly rock and reggae bands and belly dancing and other forms choreographed representations
An impromptu open-air restaurant serving beer, soft drinks, grilled hamburgers and real
Panel discussions and forums topics such as methods to advance the reputation of this form of alternative art in Oaxaca, and related health and to alleviate security concerns through the adoption Al style rules

Health and Safety Issues of concern to the body piercing and tattoos of Commerce in Oaxaca, Mexico

Throughout the U.S. there is a health and safety regulations for the drilling of tattoo and body, not in Oaxaca, but is a hot topic across the Mexican tattoo and body piercing community. The word "standards" is constantly being bandied about. The tattoo in Tattoo Fest, and more particularly Kai, tuna and Angy, made a point of indicating that most of the industry U.S. standards are health, safety and hygiene. According to tuna, the UK has more stringent, all-encompassing laws relating to tattoos and piercings in the body, which looks like a good thing.

It seems that almost all tattoo artists are sensitive to the influence led to the authorities, even no specific laws regarding tattooing and body piercing. Oaxaca is the Ministry of Health (MOH), which takes place in fact controls the behavior of the studies, the same as it does restaurants in Oaxaca. It has the ability to close a restaurant, a restaurant or dining room, on the spot. The same is true for a tattoo studio.

The threat or threat of incarceration may have a positive role in the middle of the tattoo and body piercing. While inquisitorial Oaxaca Napoleonic legal code is changing slowly (oral trials came in the state of Oaxaca in 2007, but only for the most heinous crimes), the office of Attorney General still has the right to jail offenders assumptions about any rule, law or regulation, where personal injury has resulted. Without laws specific related to tattooing and body piercing, perhaps the current legal system in Oaxaca, as arrogant as it might seem, plays an important public function for the tattoo of purchase. It certainly seems to keep the industry under control.

"We will not work in a minor age, quite simply, without permission from their parents, "Tuna stresses." And indeed, instead of relying on the written permission of a parent, for me personally wants the father right there in my studio when I'm working on your son or daughter. "

Having been trained as a lawyer, Kai has a special appreciation for the consequences of failing to ensure a clean working environment and safe in their study, and following the procedures of health, safety and hygiene regulations in other jurisdictions "The T" packaged needles, equipment kept under wrap, gloves and masks, first aid, fire and health and hygiene near the equipment security at hand, a "surgery" workspace segregated from the business side of the store, etc. The back of your business card displays steps to be taken by recipients of tattoos from the moment of leaving the studio, to reduce and hopefully eliminate the risk of infection or other complication. On the other tattoo part pamphlets list the same or similar precautions to be observed.

As tuna in Mexico City You can take courses in tattooing and piercing the body in a couple of different institutions. But they are learning the trade, and are not regulated by the government. Tuna is a contradiction between the government treatment of dental and tattoo and piercing studios, and injustice: "There are a lot of dental offices across which are much less clear in our studies, and whose staff do not follow most of the health practices, and yet the dentists are not subject to suspicion and the suggestion that we "[At least dentists. are required to have a minimum level of training in health, safety and hygiene.]

Kai, for example, is clearly an expert at his craft. From the beginning, dating back to his high school days, always read and learn in another way before you start work someone. He always would work in consultation with a doctor, a relative of the family. The doctor was a most valuable resource in terms of Kai guided through of all health and hygiene procedures appropriate for each step. Kai has never worked with anyone without approaching the task with a high level of confidence. But he admits, "never stop learning. "

The Economics of tattoos and body piercing in Oaxaca

Angy is working at the counter, making a pencil drawing of a pin-up 1950 – with a twist. A young woman had entered the studio yesterday, wants a tattoo leg of an era pin-up girl, but part of the body for non-traditional, as in a leg and half of the head maybe with the skeleton exposed, the other well-formed and feminine, like a Mexican catrina as Angy says, "but with a little meat on her body." The customer should be back today at 4 pm

Two men in their twenties come to see samples of the tattoo. They sit and browse through two albums for about 40 minutes, then arrange one to return the next day for a fairly large black tattoo of Pumas of Mexico soccer team logo. Then two young girls come in search of rings eyebrow or similar motifs in the 250 range to 300 pesos.

Kai study makes a strong business. It charges a minimum fee of 400 pesos for a tattoo simple, one tribal, literally, "tribal", as they are known, or maybe a letter. Minimum charge was the same tattoo at the festival, "Sure, Some tattoo artists will do a tattoo of 150 to 200 pesos, but most of us prefer to start with the prices we can and my quality is such that I send that kind of price, and the customer is more than satisfied. "

Kai and the burden of tuna in the same range. Both are happy to work work or daily session. Kai positions 1000-1500 pesos per session, which can result in quite significant, a more detailed color. Tuna will a full backup of 10,000 – 15,000 pesos. Each has large, complex multi-color tattoos as much as 20,000 pesos. That seems to be the highest price in Oaxaca.

There seems to be a desire to reinvest profits to ensure a better working environment, and higher end equipment. Regarding the latter, in most cases is simply a matter of import of machinery and supplies to command a higher price, and the fact that the options for Mexico manufacturing equipment and supplies are much more limited. Hence the desire to look outside the most diverse product lines. 'Do not misunderstand me, "Tuna says," no high quality equipment is manufactured here in Mexico, but lack the range of products, and of course all that matters is perceived as better and therefore sold at a higher price. "

Continuing education also seems to be a priority for the tattoo. Years ago, Kai traveled to Guadalajara to take an intensive course. According to Angy, tattooists sometimes take a short, specific area of art or a drawing course for them to keep up with market demand. Most tattoo artists are not trained in visual arts, so taking the opportunity to learn is something that many aspire. In some cases, instead of rejecting a potential customer for lack of specific expertise, it is better to invest in learning a new aspect of trade through training.

Rarely does a tattoo away business, but it does happen. Usually, a result a swastika on his forearm. "Usually what happens is someone comes in and wants a small tattoo, what, a finger or an arm, and I know I can not do a good job, given the required size, or that after a short period of time the quality will decrease, "admits Kai." So I suggest something different, something bigger or a different color scheme or a different body part. Sometimes the customer agrees, sometimes comes and sometimes it insists, in which case the decline in employment ".

"We all can use more business, but it's a job that you want to raise in terms of their reputation, so that all we must strive to maintain standards, and our personal integrity, "Kai says.

The main reasons that customers do not back is the lack of funds, either tattoo or additional to continue the same project, or pain. "Different people have different pain thresholds," Tuna reported. "The gender of the customer is sometimes a factor in the pain that one can expect will be felt, depending on the specific body part. Working in the same body part can affect men differently than women. "Only 50% of the work of tuna is repeat business.

Kai has a preference for the work of men more than women. Why men? Men tend to want larger tattoos, which translates into more artistic license and a greater ability to produce a masterpiece. "But do not misunderstand me," Kai adds defensively, "I love working in women, and make such high quality work, always. "

Customers in a little older.

Tips for Americans, Canadians, Europeans and more abroad Wanting a tattoo on Oaxaca

Tuna admits that in Mexico there are perhaps two artists of high quality tattoo 300 tattoo artists, claiming that in the U.S. figures are very different, two for each hundred. It is difficult to accept their figures, after seeing several tattoos of quality in the bodies of the Oaxacan people, and had the opportunity to speak with many tattooists Oaxaca and evaluate their dedication to the skill and desire to enhance its reputation through self-improvement. Tuna says: "If someone wants a tattoo that I know another tattoo artist can do better, I refer to a colleague who is based public confidence .. For me, I know that black, I'm on top of my game. "

The triumvirate of tattoo is ad idem when it comes to the transmission of tips for tourists visiting Oaxaca and want a tattoo:

Do not rush to spend time with the "tattoo artist," chatting, looking at their designs, and examine the surrounding study
Determine if the tattoo artist has a particular specialty, or a higher level of competition in one area versus another (ie, unlike color to black)
Address any issues of health, hygiene and safety, and that while the ministry of health has rules and rules of general application, and spot checks of tattoo studios took place, there is no specific body to monitor the tattoo industry
Despite this, as indicated by the lion's share of tattooists in Oaxaca follow the rules of America, the industry that want to raise their trade to be most common perception among the people of Oaxaca
For instructions on how to care for a tatttoo, from this time after out the study, to reduce and eliminate expect the likelihood of complications – whether on a flyer or on the back of a card
Ask questions, questions and more questions until you are satisfied that both the process and the end result will meet or exceed expectations

Elimination tattoo in Mexico

Tuna confirms some of the obvious reasons for trying to have a tattoo removed: