Local Tattoo Artists Showcase Work On Canvas
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They are artists in their own right, but a new show is exploring the fine art of local tattoo artists. NY1's Shazia Khan filed the following report.They've left their mark on necks, arms and other parts of the body, but a number of local tattoo artists want to leave a mark on the world of fine art too.
"It's really nice to see it in a different venue. Like when I do things it walks out the door and it's likely I may never see it again," said tattoo artist Josh Egnew.
Egnew is among a group of artists featured in "Metanoia," now on view at the PJS gallery in the West Village. Curators of the show say the exhibit is defined as a spiritual conversion or awakening.
"I wanted to see what they can create without being confined to what somebody else is directing them to do because some of the tattoos that are coming out these days are absolutely amazing," said "Metanoia" co-curator Patrick Sullivan. "So to see what they can do when they have a blank canvass literally instead of some skin and being told what to do I think is definitely a fine art."
Artists who spoke with NY1 say they enjoy the freedom to stretch their talents. They also point out there are fewer technical factors to consider when working on other mediums than skin.
"When I'm working with tattooing it's thinking how it's going to read from a distance and what it looks like up close there are parameters, there's parameters to how it ages," said tattoo artist Stephanie Tamez.
Artist Thomas hooper appreciates both practices, but he says he is more challenged when he is tattooing.
"Tattooing is much more difficult. Everybody's skin is different. It's like working on a piece of a paper that someone who is moving while you are doing it, it's very, very difficult. But with paper, you know, it has its other difficult issues. You do it and then what do you do with it? Nobody is paying you to do that unless you sell it," said tattoo artist Thomas Hooper.
But unlike real tattoos, "Metanoia" is temporary only through August 27.
For more information, visit www.pjs-exhibitions.com.