Tattoos not taboo

By Globe reporter Emily Burden

Tattoos are becoming more and more socially acceptable, and Guernsey is no exception.

Over recent years, cultural reference books, professional journals, newspapers and magazines have all started to recognise tattooing as a well established art form. Its cultural status has steadily evolved from that of an anti-social activity in the 1960s to that of a trendy fashion statement by the 1990s.

Artists trained in traditional fine-art disciplines. Over recent years they began to embrace tattooing and brought with them entirely new sorts of sophisticated imagery and techniques.

In Guernsey the story is no different. It wasn’t that long ago tattooing was frowned upon greatly, with most St Peter Port bars not allowing anyone in the establishments with any visible. However, since then the island has gone ‘ink mad’ and landlords gave up the fight.

Tattoos have long been placed with stereotypes – rockers, metal-heads, goths, freaks, thugs… the list goes on. Not many realise the average, professional Guern in the finance industry has them or even the nine-to-five stay-at-home mum – just because the ink isn’t on show doesn’t mean it isn’t there.

Locally there are two main shops in which you can get ‘inked’ – White Ink and Black Star.

Black Star has been open for just over a year but already has made a reputation for focusing on custom designs rather than ‘off-the-wall’ ones. Owner Matt Burdett agrees that tattoos are increasingly popular in Guernsey.

‘In my 10 years in this business there has never been a quiet time,’ he says.

‘There is such a huge market for it over here and I don’t know why but the island is mad for ink.’

Matt’s career was accidental: he just walked into it after being lucky enough to meet someone who offered to show him the ropes.

‘I was thrown in at the deep end and was told “here’s a machine, here’s how you set it up”,’ he said.

‘But you learn more the more you do it – just like everything else. I had always been an artist, I had always drawn – you can’t be a tattooist unless you can draw.’

Matt’s comments echo the debate on whether tattooing is art or not.

‘Why isn’t it art?’ he asks.

‘I’m drawing a picture. The only difference is that I am putting it on someone’s skin. People don’t realise that two to three days of my week are taken up by drawing people’s tattoos, so why am I not an artist?

‘There are many reasons why tattooing is frowned upon, but it is mostly the stereotypes that people associate them with – the image of thuggery. People with tattoos on their neck get branded a thug, yet is the smart man who works in a bank – who has a massive back-piece – a thug? Just because people decide to colour themselves in doesn’t make them a thug. I find it really hard to put myself in the position to see why tattoos are not respectable.’

Different people have different reasons for getting inked, but many people tend to choose a tattoo that has a meaning behind it.

‘I don’t see why tattoos need to have meaning,’ said Matt.

‘I personally think that the tattoo needs only to look good. My shop’s main focus is on custom designs which some people thought wouldn’t work out, but I have been flat out since I opened. With custom designs I can really work with the customer, getting something really personal and looking awesome – no one wants to have the same tattoo as someone else, so I am giving people choice.’

The custom policy has proved popular, with the shop being booked up till September and due to the demand, Matt has recruited another full-time member of staff, Nick Dray, and extended the shop.

‘I don’t think the market for tattooing will die down – it isn’t going anywhere, people are turning 18 every year,’ said Matt.

‘And if you think about it, it is the cheapest thing you’ll ever buy, as you take it to your grave – it’s there forever.’

The shoulder detail of Steve Kendall’s tattoo. (0593101)