China Daily Global Edition (USA)
Ren Xiaojin
Chinese are changing how they think about ink. Tattoos were ubiquitous in Born to Be King, the sixth hit mob movie in Hong Kong’s popular Young and Dangerous franchise. They served as symbols of gang culture, as is illustrated by the violence depicted in Andrew Lau Wai-keung’s 2000 film.
Fast forward 17 years — that attitude is changing.
Today, tattoos aren’t only popular among China’s hip youth but also, increasingly, its middle class.
This inspired “David and George, the Tattoo Brothers”, as they’re locally known, to set up a small studio in Zhejiang province’s Ningbo five years ago. They’d spent two years honing their craft before opening a 30-square-meter studio in 2012.
“We set up the business impulse,” says George.
“But we needed to master the skills before we could make money. It took a while to build a reputation.”
Consequently, it took build up a customer base.
They didn’t have money to advertise, so they had to rely on word-ofmouth promotion.
“Few clients were willing to trust a couple of random guys,” David says.
“But things started to pick up after a year. We’ve since had to relocate because we needed more space.”
They serve dozens of customers a week, especially in the summer.
Prices range from a couple of hundred yuan a piece to hundreds of yuan per hour, depending on the tattoo’s size and intricacy.
Clients are typically fashionable 20-somethings with disposable income.
They seek originality in their ink work.
Changing views
“People’s attitudes George says.
“Tattoos are no longer a sign of gang affiliation. They’re often ways to honor someone you love or a way to record a story on your skin.”
Ningbo native Zhang Yuan got “Andne forhtedonna” inked on her lower back when she was in university years ago. The phrase by Argentine author Jorge Luis Borges translates into modern English as “And not at all frightened”.
“I was about to study abroad. I wanted to mark this new chapter of my life and remind myself to be brave,” the 25-year-old says, recalling the reason behind the tattoo.
She hid it from her mother for years, since older people often still hold negative views about tattoos. But her mom eventually found out.
“She didn’t freak out,” Zhang are time on to shifting,” says. “She stared at and asked if it hurt.”
Ningbo serves as a microcosm for the greater acceptance of tattoos nationwide.
The city of 8 million people hosted the China International Tattoo Convention, one of the country’s largest tattoo events, for the first time in October.
It featured over 200 booths for studios, including 70 from overseas, and another 40 for equipment suppliers.
Si Tu, who works with Yimo Tattoo Studio, the event’s organizer, says: “Not everyone understands tattoos in Ningbo. But I can see acceptance is growing quickly.” it for a while
David points out that it has taken time since Ningbo is a relatively conservative city, compared with metropolises like Beijing and Shanghai.
A growing trend
Views about tattoos have been changing in recent years.
“Studios became popular more than a decade ago,” says Cao Deyong, owner of Caotang Tattoo Studio in Suzhou, Jiangsu province.
“They spread like wildfire in major cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Tianjin and Chengdu. The market needs more tattoo artists. I believe the community will continue to expand and bring attention to tattooists, who are currently undervalued.”
Still, he’s not sure about the industry’s future profitability. Some insiders believe the demographic is expanding beyond the younger generation.
“Countless studios are opening in China. But most don’t make it past three years,” says Mu Mu, a fine arts graduate, who opened Just Tattoo Studio in Guangdong province’s Guangzhou in 2013.
All of its tattooists women.
“You can see Baidu searches for tattoos have dropped about 10 percent from 2015-16. Perhaps the economy determines demand,” she are young says, referring search engine.
But certain cities are enjoying a boom, largely fueled by middleclass professionals aged 29 to 39. This demographic seeks “high-end” body art, she says.
“The number of people who are 29 to 39 years old searching Baidu for tattoos is nearly equal to the number between the ages of 20 and 29. The future belongs to those who do top-end work.”
She believes Beijing place for artists.
“The capital is a melting pot that welcomes any culture, including underground ones,” she says.
David and George say they strive to prove tattoos are as valuable as any other art genre.
“So, we always attend international tattoo expos and festivals,” David says.
Si, the China International Tattoo Convention organizer, says the industry offers promising prospects for arts majors, who often struggle after graduation.
“I hope tattoo culture will become mainstream and tattoos will be universally recognized as fine art.” to China’s main is the best