Tropical Fish Expo
Tattooists in Oaxaca, Mexico: lawyer, a graduate of Fine Arts to make strange bedfellows to tattoo
Alvin Starkman MA, LL.B.
Context Tattoo and Piercing in Oaxaca, Mexico, through the eyes of a lawyer
Lawyer Kaireddyn (Kai) Orta began to make their own rudimentary tools for tattooing in 1996, while High School here in Oaxaca, Mexico. One day a neighbor saw wearing a shoe box and asked what was in it. Kai showed him the right engine, needles, ink and other accessories. The neighbor was the first recipient of the tattoo Kai. Kai and started tattooing from his friends.
Kai had been interested in tattoos (tattoos) and piercings (Drilling) since childhood. It was natural for him, since his father was a history teacher, always telling stories of the rituals of the indigenous peoples of Mexico. It is no shortage books in the house with pictures of Hispanic people who were used to adorn themselves. Kai ate.
But over the youth of Kai, tattoos visible in the flesh was a rarity. Apart from books, and sometimes they come across a tattooed person on television, would only have a chance to see people real tattoos and body piercings when you can take a look tourists, mainly Americans and Europeans walking the streets of the city of Oaxaca, one of the centers international tourism.
The modern tradition of tattoos and piercings have been established in countries like Canada, USA, Spain and Britain, long before his arrival in Mexico. Like so many representations of the emerging subcultures, it takes more than a decade to catch up with Mexico, particularly in regions of the country more isolated and conservative as Oaxaca.
The state of Oaxaca was isolated in much of the half physical to the north, and even
the world until the arrival of the Pan American Highway at the end of 1940. While the rare adventurer making his way to Oaxaca between then and early 1960, was the hippie movement late in that decade and early 1970, which opened southern Mexico to the notion of North America and Europe against cultures, including tattoos, body piercing and after. However, the prevailing sentiment of the Mexican middle class was that their children should be isolated from young foreigners, and represented all sub-culture.
Jump forward to 1990. Change is beginning to emerge in Oaxaca. Tattoos, piercings and other nontraditional forms of expression began to be perceived as dominant in the Western world. The silver screen and the promotion of its magazines and stars tattooed pierced will become commonplace. Oaxaca had to take notice. And that includes the older generation, who was forced to acknowledge, if not accept that the ritual behavior of their grandchildren (and to a much lesser extent their children) could not be assimilated to something sneaky, dirty and evil as a mere consequence of adjustment physical appearance through painting and piercing their bodies permanently. Much in the youth culture of Oaxaca critical thinking to higher education, therefore more able to make informed decisions, fight for them, and celebrate.
Kai is thirty years. The practice of law was not for him. By the time he got his degree and had a taste of working life for lawyers (less than a year), had become an established tattoo and piercing artist with its own study, although somewhat smaller than its current digs. And besides, most lawyers in Oaxaca do not earn the income that provides a lifestyle of the class average, at least by Western standards.
Showcase current Crespo Kai street in the heart of the city Oaxaca, consists of:
- The reception area with desk and computer long aquarium filled with tropical fish, the showcases with jewelry, mainly in drilling, floor wood carvings and African masks (masks and some Mexicans), a library of disks containing drawings and photographs Tattoos in essence and two comfortable sofas where customers can browse through the "specialist" in his spare time
- A room decorated in the same average case with supply now, of course, full of modern equipment and supplies business, as well as a small workshop attached
- The back room, with chairs and a table of "exploitation" to help with tattoos and piercings
"Here in Oaxaca, we do not refer to ourselves as "artists," says Kai. "In the U.S. there is greater acceptance of art and dedicated to skill, so that the United States and other countries like Canada, which is acceptable to use the term "tattoo artist. However, we have seen Oaxaca tattooist. "
Kai colleagues and participate in the Annual Festival of Kings tattoo in Oaxaca, Summer 2010
In an interview with a 3 ½ hours in the studio of Kai, his friends and fellow tattoo artist in Mexico City, Daniel (tuna) Larios and his girlfriend (Angy) Angélica de la Mora, was working in the shop and serve customers, while for some of the time Kai was shopping.
Tuna is a tattoo artist 12 years after tattooing Angy started a year ago, when she began living with the tuna. Together they opened a store in the capital. Before the tuna had tattoos for customers from other studies. It was introduced in trade for having his body tattooed. Angy learned the skill of tuna.
However, learn to be a tattoo artist was a natural Angy. He said having a degree in fine arts at a university in Chihuahua and has participated in several group exhibitions traditional art. "But it's easier to make a living doing tattoos as an artist," says Angy. Unlike Angy and Kai, most tattooist Mexico has advanced training for other careers options.
Angy tuna and had come to Oaxaca to participate in the twelfth Festival Annual Tattoo, held August 21 and 22, 2010, just days before. Kai is one of the three organizers of festivals, and was about the ground floor of the concept, when the festival the first was held in 1998. "Until this year the event was called Tattoo Expo," says Kai. "We decided to change the name to attract more foreigners. But back to the first year, was held expositions can meet to exchange ideas, improve access to modern equipment and supplies, and raise the level of awareness of the community in Oaxaca, so I hope that there would be greater acceptance of what we were doing. Now, the objectives and functions of the events are much larger, since we are on track to achieve our goals faster. "
The success of Oaxaca Tattoo Fest 2010 was evident in the crowd (hundreds for all estimates) and sales. Angy between tuna and has 11 tattoos within two days. "I was coming to the fair four or five years, "Tuna says," but this is the first year I can really say it was for me all the earnings-wise, to get to Oaxaca. You know I had to close my shop in the city of Mexico to come here. I think this show has finally flipped. "
This year, there were about thirty huts, about a dozen who are dedicated to tattoos. During a visit to an hour on Sundays throughout this tattoo every time I was busy working – and in many cases, there were spectators in the queue waiting their turn.
Many suppliers in other parts of Mexico to participate. They met in Oaxaca not only tattoos and piercings, but also sell a wide variety of related materials, including:
- Tattoo and piercing equipment, supplies and other accessories
- CDs, DVDs and posters with themes of all alternatives (both Bob Marley and Alice Cooper live in Oaxaca)
- Body piercing and other personal ornaments, masks, wrestling, and clothing, custom painted-u-wait.
The event was more a sales opportunity for retailers, however. It is an opportunity for the company to promote their industry, source of the state of art imported equipment and other supplies (tattoo artist, because many do not go to Mexico City, very often, and most imported machines, needles and paintings are the first in the Mexico City), and tattoo and piercing entertain collectors, hobbyists and strange, all under one roof, the Master Room located in front of the reputation Oaxaca Abastos market.
As Kai said, it seems that there are three categories of people in Oaxaca, and probably in other countries who get tattoos:
- The collections that usually ends up filling most of his body, trying to counteract the greater diversity of points of view as possible, or a particular class or artistic design (ie, demons, pre-Hispanic figures, animals, famous faces), often try to do the job tattoo of several different in different states and countries, if possible
- The amateur who wants a tattoo of a few strategic placed on body parts
- A person who wishes occasionally one or two tattoos of the word itself or some kind of statement, after seeing a tattoo that he or she likes, whether a celebrity, a friend or a stranger on the street or choosing a specific design for a tattoo logo of your favorite sports team illustrates this type of work
This is no different from other hobbies and interests. Human nature remains the same. The first category is an obsession for collecting, as a kind of folk art antique salt and pepper, scales, and so on. The second is a passion that sets limits, both either by design or unconsciously, based on the personality trait. The third is just thinking about it selective, regardless of the product, taking an interest, often ephemeral, but enough to result in a purchase or two.
As part of the celebration two days of all that is still considered a little culture of the contras in Oaxaca, there were:
- Live entertainment, including seven mostly rock and reggae bands and belly dancing and other performances choreographed
- A makeshift outdoor restaurant to serve beer, soft drinks, burgers and real
- Panel discussions and forums on issues such as how to advance the reputation of this alternative art form in Oaxaca, and related health and to allay security concerns by adopting the American style rules
Health problems affecting and safety of body piercing and tattooing trade in Oaxaca, Mexico
Throughout the U.S. there is a health and safety regulations for tattooing and body piercing, not in Oaxaca, but it is a hot topic around the tattoo and piercing of the Mexican community. The word "standards" is constantly mouth. The tattoo artist Tattoo Fest, especially Kai, tuna and Angy, made a point to indicate that most of the industry to follow U.S. standards health, safety and hygiene. According to the tuna, the UK has more stringent, all encompassing the tattoo and piercing laws of the body, which he considers a good thing.
It seems that almost everyone is sensitive tattooist influence conducted by the authorities, even without specific laws regarding tattooing and body piercing. In Oaxaca, the Ministry of Health (MOH) that checks the behavior of studies of place, as it does in the restaurants of Oaxaca. It has the ability to close a restaurant, cafeteria or dining room, on the spot. And the same goes for a tattoo studio.
The perceived threat or imprisonment can play a positive role in the community of tattoos and perforations. Although Oaxaca inquisitorial Napoleonic code evolves slowly (Oral evidence came to Oaxaca in 2007, although for the most heinous crimes), the Attorney General's Office still has the rights of suspected criminals in jail for almost any statute, law or regulation, where an injury is the result. No specific laws related to tattooing and piercing, perhaps Oaxaca current legal system, as his hands up as it seems, plays an important role for the public Tattoo purchase. It certainly seems that to maintain the industry's control.
"We're not going to work in a minor clearly and simply, without consent the parents, "said Tuna." And indeed, instead of relying on the written consent of a father to me personally, I want the father in my studio I work where your son or daughter. "
Having trained as a lawyer, Kai has a special appreciation for the consequences of failing to ensure a clean and safe working in his study, following procedures established health and safety in other jurisdictions, "the shirt" packaged needles, equipment maintenance on, gloves and masks, first aid, fire and related health team, health and safety near at hand, a "surgery" workspace separate from the business side of the store, etc. The back of the cards list of measures should be taken by recipients of tattoos when they leave the study Luckily for reducing and eliminating the risk of infection or other complication. On the other hand leaflets showing the same tattooed or similar precautions should be observed.
According to the tuna, Mexico, can be taken during the drilling of tattooing and body for a couple of different institutions. But they are for Learning the art, and are not regulated by the government. Thon views inconsistency between the treatment of dental and Government of the tattoo and piercing studios, and injustice: "There are many dental practices of all, they are much less clean than our studies, and staff are not the majority of health practices, and yet Dentists are not under suspicion and innuendo that we are "[At least dentists. are required to have a minimum level of training in health, safety and hygiene.]
Kai, for example, is clearly a skilled trade. From the beginning, going back to his high school years, always read and learn before you start working on someone. He always work in consultation with a doctor, a relative of the family. The doctor was one of the most valuable resources in terms Kai's guide through all health and hygiene for every stage of the proceedings. Kai has never worked with anyone without tackling the task with a high confidence level. But admits, "never stop learning."
The economy tattoos and piercings in Oaxaca
Angy works at the counter, making a pencil drawing of a pin-up of the 1950 – with a twist. A young woman entered the studio yesterday, he wants a tattoo leg of an era pin-up, but part of the body non-traditional, as in a leg and half of the head may be exposed bone in the skeleton, the other well-formed and female, as in Mexican Catrina as Angy says, "but with a little meat on her body." The customer must return today at 4:00 pm
Two men in their twenties to analyze samples of tattoo. They sit and browse through two albums for about 40 minutes, then arrange to return one the next day for a fairly large black tattoo the logo of the Pumas of the Mexican soccer team. Then two girls come in search of eyebrow rings and other similar ornaments in the 250 to 300 pesos wide.
Kai studio is a business fast. He sees a minimum tax of 400 pesos for a simple tattoo, tribe literally, "tribal", as they are called, or maybe a letter. Minimum charge was the same tattoo at the festival: "Of course, some tattoo a tattoo of 150 to 200 pesos, but most of us prefer to start with the prices we can take our time to do a quality job that the customer may definitely appreciate, and therefore want to go back, show your friends, and so on. I tattoo a long time, and my quality is such that I command those prices, and the customer satisfied. "
Kai and accountable in the same range as the tuna. Both are happy to work with the work, or per session daily. Kai Charges 1000 – 1500 pesos per session, which can lead to quite large, detailed color image. Tuna will make a total return of 10,000 to 15,000 pesos. Each has a large complex of multi-colored tattoos as 20,000 pesos. Seems to be the highest price in Oaxaca.
There seems to be willing to reinvest in In order to get a better work environment, and end devices. Regarding the latter, in most cases is simply a matter of importing machinery and supplies to demand a higher price, and the fact that the choices made Mexico the equipment and supplies are much more limited. Hence the desire to look outside the most diverse product lines. "No no mistake," Tuna in custody, "high quality equipment is made in Mexico, but we lack the range of products, and of course nothing matters is seen as a better and therefore receives a higher price. "
Education also appears to be an ongoing priority for the tattooist. Years ago, Kai went to Guadalajara to take an intensive course. According to Angy, sometimes tattoo take a short, one particular area of art or design courses to enable them to meet market demand. Most have no training tattooist in fine arts, and have the opportunity to learn something that many aspire. In some cases, instead of rejecting a potential customer for lack special skills, it is better to invest in learning a new aspect of the business through training.
Rarely does a tattoo business away, but it happens. This usually the result of the artist not being able to do quality work based on the design requested, to find that repulsive. This may simply be that tattoo is not usually found someone what it means, for example, a swastika on his forearm. "Usually what happens is that someone comes and wants a small tattoo, no matter what, in 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, "Kai admits. "Therefore, I suggest something different, something bigger or a different color scheme, or body part. Sometimes, the customer agrees, sometimes he go, and insists, sometimes, in this case, rejecting the position. "
"We can all use more business, but it is a business we want to raise in terms of reputation, so we must all strive to maintain standards, and our personal integrity, "says Kai.
The main reasons that customers do not come back is the lack of funds for additional tattoos or continue the same project, or pain. "Different people have different thresholds of pain, "reports the tuna." The gender of the clientele may be a factor in pain, we can expect will be felt, depending on the specific part of body. Work on 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 more tattoos, which is more artistic freedom and greater ability to produce a masterpiece. "But make no mistake," Kai adds defensively, "I work on women, and do a job such high quality, always. "
Customers twenty years are the age group. Otherwise, during a teenager comes with one parent, maybe 20% of tattoo-seekers are in their thirties, and a much smaller percentage is slightly higher.
Tips for Canadian Americans, Europeans and foreigners who want more tattoos in Oaxaca
Thon admits that Mexico may have two high quality 300 tattoo artists tattoo artist, said the United States the figures are percent different, two. It is difficult to accept their figures, after seeing the quality of the bodies of several tattoos Oaxaca, and had the opportunity to speak with many tattoo Oaxaca and to assess its commitment to competition, and his desire to raise their reputation through self-improvement. Thon says: "If someone wants a tattoo that I know another tattoo can do better, I refer a colleague to strengthen public confidence .. For me, I know in the dark, I am top of my game. "
The triumvirate of tattoo is ad idem when it comes to passing tips for tourists visiting Oaxaca and want a tattoo:
- Do not rush Do not take the time to "tattoo", chatting, looking at his ideas, and discussion surrounding the study
- Determine tattoo If a specialty or proficiency in an area of more than one color (ie black instead)
- Addressing the concerns of health, hygiene and safety because while the Ministry of Health are rules and regulations of general application, and spot checks of tattoo studios are, there is no specific body the police to the tattoo industry
- Nevertheless, as indicated in the lion tattoo Oaxaca does not follow U.S. standards, those in industry who wish to expand their trade to have a greater awareness among the people of Oaxaca
- Find instructions on how to care for a tatttoo, beginning with the time after leaving the study, to reduce or even eliminate the risk of complications – or a steering wheel or the back of a card
- Ask questions, questions and issues that satisfied both the process and the final result meets or exceeds expectations
Elimination Tattoo Mexico
Thon confirms some of the obvious reasons to try to get a tattoo removed:
- As required by the employer (for work)
- In an attempt to get a job
- The individual was very young when he or she received the tattoo, and then had a different attitude towards this type of body adornment
- The quality of the tattoo was bad or doubtful from the beginning
- A change of opinion about the image, or altering the body, probably a result that looks like adulteration
With the quality of plastic surgery inexpensive Oaxaca, tattoo removal in the state is an attractive option for those who want a return to a tattoo – free existence.
References tattooist in Oaxaca and Mexico City, Oaxaca and a plastic surgeon for laser tattoo removal
- Dermografics, Calle Primera # 106, Crespo, Centro Historico, Oaxaca, cel: 0449511198642, e: casadeldolor@hotmail.com (Kaireddyn Orta)
- Toltecs, Eje Central # 191, esq. Dr. Duran, Col. Doctores, Mexico, tel: 55 31266558 or 55 31469578, Email: sucubus6@hotmail.com (Daniel and Angelica Larios de la Mora)
- Dr. Filiberto Fajardo, Circuit Waterfall # 1 | 03, Fraccionamiento La Cascada, Oaxaca, tel: 513 8921 or 515 3715
About the Author
Alvin Starkman received his Masters in Social Anthropology in 1978. After teaching for a few years he attended Osgoode Hall Law School in Toronto, thereafter embarking upon a career as a litigator until 2004. Alvin now resides in Oaxaca, where he writes, leads small group tours to the villages, markets, ruins and other sites, is a consultant to film production companies, and operates Casa Machaya Oaxaca Bed & Breakfast. ( http://www.oaxacadream.com ) .
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