Look out for
MORE than 60 artists will be featured at the Tattoo Malaysia Expo 2019. If you’re interested in getting inked at the expo, finding the right design and the right artist can be daunting.
You would probably have some questions or even reservations about how the artists work, too. Rest assured though that all the artists at the expo have the same goal – to work safely and to make sure that everything is done hygienically. If you still have questions, don’t hesitate to ask your artist.
Here are some names to look out for:
> Gabe Shum from Hong Kong is the founder of Freedom Tattoo, whose clientele include David Beckham and Lebron James. He also organised the Hong Kong Tattoo Expo for seven years. Shum will be conducting a workshop at the KL expo.
> Guy le Tatooer (pic, left) from France is not just well-known among his peers but with tattoo fans too. He is a second-generation artist whose tattoos feature mostly intricate line work.
> Christian Nguyen from Switzerland is the founder of the Inkvaders Studio and is known as a celebrity tattoo artist. Nguyen’s clientele includes the musicians/rappers from Cypress Hill, Limp Bizkit and Korn, to name a few.
> Ernesto Kalum is Malaysia’s own tattoo celebrity. He is the founder of the Borneo Headhunters Tattoo Studio in Sarawak and is the only Malaysian to be listen in the book, Mondial du Tatouage, which was published in France. He was also featured in the National Geographic documentary series, Taboo, in 2003.
> Marco Leoni from Italy is the founder of Brazil Tattoo Club and has been in the industry for 40 years. He is also the organiser of the first ever tattoo conventions in Brazil and Italy.
Other than tattoos, the expo will also feature live music performances from local bands including Infiltrate, Ogoshi Rebels, Mothflesh, Born Heroes and Fractured.
There are games, contests, activities and educational workshops for children too, for parents who wish to get inked in peace. For more information, check out the Tattoo Malaysia Expo’s Facebook page.