People from across Cape Town and further afield found themselves in serendipitous solidarity recently. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Despite being strangers to each other, they all had been at the V&A Waterfront during the first weekend of April, they all were nursing a by now rather itchy skin abrasion, and they all had busted their monthly budget by splurging on a tattoo that they absolutely love.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Over 140 world-class tattoo artists \u2013 with a collection of tattooers representing over 22 countries \u2013 showcased their talents at the three-day South African International Tattoo Convention (SAITC) held at The Lookout in the V&A Waterfront from Friday 31 March to Sunday 2 April. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
For many who attended, and who were able to secure a time slot with their preferred artist, the temptation to get inked was just too great.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And who can blame them? With the best of the best all under one roof, an opportunity like this does not come around very often. Well, at least not until next year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Event organiser Romy van Tonder says the annual convention once again brought together a very special community of tattooers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe got to share our art with our followers and have an incredible time. It was truly a great show. Thanks to every person who showed up and came to support, we\u2019ll see you back in 2024, same time, same place.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tattoo artist Dimitri Dimopoulos of Walk the Line Tattoo in Greece says this was his first time participating in SAITC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnd it will not be my last.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Having participated in tattoo conventions across the globe, he says what drew him to the South African one were Instagram posts by fellow tattoo artists in 2019. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThey were at this convention, and they had so much fun, they were together, like friends, and I thought, this looks nice, the city looks nice. It\u2019s a relatively small convention, it is a good opportunity to meet some people, to make some new friends. Let\u2019s go to Cape Town, let\u2019s go and see.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dimopoulos says although he was into drawing comic characters as a kid followed by graffiti painting as a teenager, his fascination for the art of tattooing took hold after he got his first tattoo at the age of 19. He was in Athens at the time, studying design. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
He says it was then that he put all of his other interests aside to focus on perfecting his skills as a tattoo artist. Besides himself, his first human canvasses were his brother, his cousins and his close friends. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
He says back then he wasn\u2019t that great, but his Instagram account, which displays an example of his expert work, shows he certainly is now. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dimopoulos says being a tattoo artist is a journey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou never stop learning. You change your style or point of view, you are inspired by some artists.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dimopoulos, who is now 38, says when he started, his designs were very detailed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI wanted to show my skills. But now, I prefer simple designs, using half of the lines to have the same effect. When I see a tattoo from a distance, I want to realise what it is. Not put in too much detail and make it confusing. I like solid colours.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When he opened his first shop at the age of 24 in his hometown, Larisa, his tattoo style of choice was Classic Americana. According to 99designs.com, this old-school style is defined by bold outlines and the use of similar colours and imagery (\u201c12 classic tattoo styles you need to know\u201d). This type of style is closely tied to the ocean and nautical imagery, pinup female figures, fierce predatory animals, or combinations of hearts, roses and daggers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
And these were also the \u201cflash\u201d designs (a design printed or drawn on paper for walk-ins) that he displayed at his booth. Because, as Dimopoulos explains it, this style is more suitable when time is limited.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, in the past few years, he has been leaning more towards the Japanese style. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to lighthouse.com, Japanese tattooing is characterised by a boldness and readability that leaves no ambiguity as to what is depicted in the tattoo. The website says this is achieved through high contrast, strong line work, and a background that compliments and contrasts the foreground. The genre is known for large images that cover the back, arms, and legs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI wanted to try some bigger projects, like total sleeves, back face, leg sleeves. Traditional Americana doesn\u2019t go for that kind of approach so through the years, I studied the Japanese style and started doing bigger projects. Now I mostly focus on Japanese when I see private clients but when I go to conventions, I show my Americana style because it is difficult to start a sleeve here,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And if you are wondering where it hurts the most to get a tattoo, Dimopoulos says the belly button. Short on the heels of this tender spot are the ribs, the neck and the head.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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