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The Chinese government doesn't like them, but it's fighting a losing battle: tattoos are only getting more popular. And many are true works of art, enabled by a revolution in techniques. My long-ish read, and a thread with some stunning pictures: (1) https://www.economist.com/books-and-arts/2020/08/29/china-makes-its-mark-on-the-world-of-tattoos
I should note that this is a departure from my usual reporting on economics. But I'd been struck by the number & variety of tattoos in Shanghai. In the end I found that the artistry was in many ways more interesting than the politics, so made that the focus of this piece. (2)
It was in the late 1990s that a uniquely Chinese style first started to emerge: the “Chinese neo-traditional school”. Inspired by Japanese tattoos but a little wilder. Here are some by Shen Weiguo, a pioneer, based in Shanghai. (3)
Over the past 15 years, two more distinctive Chinese styles have emerged (to simplify a little).
The first is calligraphic, with bolder, more inventive strokes than are normally seen abroad. These are tattoos by Wu Shang, based in Wenling, Zhejiang. (4)
The first is calligraphic, with bolder, more inventive strokes than are normally seen abroad. These are tattoos by Wu Shang, based in Wenling, Zhejiang. (4)
The second is ink-wash 水墨 painting, the stuff of traditional Chinese landscapes. Two women are seen by many as the finest tattoo artists in this style. Here are some amazing ones by Chen Jie, based in Beijing. (5)
And here are some by Joey Pang, now based in Dali. She studied under a calligraphy master for a decade to refine her brush stroke and is a true perfectionist. (6)
For anyone familiar with the Asian tattoo world, Joey Pang might ring a bell. She used to be a star in Hong Kong, attracting clients from around the world. Then in 2017 she disappeared, leaving dozens of people w unfinished tattoos. As reported here: (7) https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/article/2117971/stained-legacy-how-top-hong-kong-tattoo-artist-joey-pang-vanished
I was lucky to reach her in Dali: her first time speaking to media since she vanished. I got her side of the story. In HK, her wait list ran three years into the future, with few rest days. She felt that she was becoming a robot, disconnected from her art, her passion. (8)
Her husband was also her business partner, responsible for helping to book her clients and manage her public appearances. Their relationship -- both personal and professional -- collapsed. She felt she had no choice but to run away, leaving him and everything they had built. (9)
She went to Dali, near her birthplace. Struggled w depression for two years. Eventually she opened a small new studio -- just in time for covid-19. She feels horrible about having left clients with unfinished tattoos but says she was unable to do good work at the time. (10)
Joey asked me to relay this message to any former clients who paid a deposit: if you go to Dali when borders re-open, she will finish your tattoos for free.
I mentioned that in the article, which I'm fairly certain is the first tattoo offer to ever appear in The Economist. /////
I mentioned that in the article, which I'm fairly certain is the first tattoo offer to ever appear in The Economist. /////
