***MASSIVE 7TH INTERNATIONAL LONDON TATTOO CONVENTION 23/24/25 SEPTEMBER 2011 @ TOBACCO DOCK*** The seventh International London Tattoo Convention, now the most important and crowded convention in the world, will be held over the weekend of September 23/24/25 at Tobacco Dock, 50 Porters Walk, Wapping, E1W 2SF. This year, the organizers of this world record breaking event are opening up even more areas, rooms and attractions than ever before, to meet the public’s inexorably increasing interest in body art. Established in 2005, The London International Tattoo Convention, organized by the global Tattoo Life Publication, had outgrown original venue the Old Truman Brewery by 2007 and moved to the enormous Tobacco Dock in 2008. In 2009 organizers set the ‘Guinness World Record for The Most People Being Tattooed Simultaneously’, while well over 20,000 thronged Tobacco Dock in 2010 and even more are expected through the doors in 2011. More than 250 of the world’s absolute elite tattooists (selected from well over 1,000 applications) will be practicing their art in public, working in multiple styles of the art form this year:- *Chicano style artists working include Jose Lopez, Ben Grillo, Fonzy, Manuel Valenzuela, Steve Soto, Chuey Quintanar, Carlos Torres and Dr Lakra. *New skool style artists working include Adrian Lee, Matt Stamah, Ron Earhart, Boris, Jim Miner, Phil Holt and Jeff Gogue. *Traditional style artists working include Tim Hendricks (star of new TV show NYC Ink), Bill Loika, Chad Koeplinger, Theo Jak, Steve Bolz, Charlie Roberts, Theo Mindell and Scott Sylvia. *Japanese style (modern) artists working include Mike Rubendall, Henning Jorgensen, Pino Cafaro, Dalmiro, Shige, Genko, and Dalmiro, while japanese style (traditional) artists working include the Horiyoshi III family, Horitaka, Rico and Jess Yen. *Realism style artists working include Nikki Hurtado, Alex de Pase and Shane O'Neill. *Horror style artists working include Rober Hernandez, Jack Ribeiro, Milosh, Dan Marshall, Tim Kern, Liorcifer, Erik de l'etoile, Ethan Morgan and Lenu. *Tribal style artists working include Jondix, Mike the Athens, Tas, Brent McCown, Daniel di Mattia, and Jacqueline Spoerle. *Comic style style artists working include Jesus Salayero, Dimitri and STeph D. As ever, there will be a massive amount of tattoo equipment and supplies stalls, exhibitions, artistic events, alternative attractions and distractions at this polished and rounded event, which has come such a long way since its inception. Major 2 Tone Ska acts The Beat and The Selector are already confirmed to play headline sets in the sprawling underground Jamaica Inn over the weekend; Vince Ray and The Boneshakers will once again headline The Voodoo Crypt, and many many more acts have yet to be announced. The massive, spectacular, semi-submerged underground vault floor boasts wide lounge areas where select magical, jaw-dropping alternative performers will astound at regular intervals throughout the weekend. There will be a humungous number of alternative merchandise and clothing plus massive fetish and vintage retro markets on the lower ground floor, making a wall-to-wall extravaganza of rockabilly, goth, 50’s pin-up, punk and rocker clothing. A wide range of food and drink - catering for all tastes - will be available on site from restaurants on the ground floor and the outside food court, plus various traditional East End themed pubs and a dedicated real ale bar, all licensed until 1.00am, on the lower vault floor. Tattoo Art For Japan / Art Auction For The Red Cross Japan Relief Fund – Among the numerous shows and exhibitions planned for the London Tattoo Convention, a special mention must be made for this fund raising artistic project. This exhibition of Japanese art and tradition, put together thanks to the hard work, generosity and involvement of Diamond Jim of Old Style Tattoo in Cologne / Koln, presents works made specifically for the event by Mick Tattoo (Zurich), Mike Wilson (USA), Shad (Belgium), Dan Sinnes (Luxembourg), Chad Koeplinger (USA), Chriss Dettmer (Germany), Dave Fox (USA), Scott Smith (USA), Steve Burton (Canada) and many other top artists. Jim’s objective is to auction all the works of Tattoo Art Japan over the three days of the convention and donate 100% of the proceeds to the Red Cross Japan Relief Fund. Vanessa Lake Calendar – Amazing American alt model Vanessa Lake, one of the sexiest fetish glamour models on the planet, will be at the Tattoo Life booth to chat with her fans and sign copies of The Tattoo Energy 2012 Calendar. Each page of the calendar features her breath taking body, beautifully highlighted by photographer Christian Saint against a back drop set in a mysterious motel, out of time, right in line with her tattoos; exclusively sleeves with illustrations inspired by Lewis Carroll’s ‘Alice In Wonderland’ and ‘Through The Looking Glass’ works. Check out www.ispyvanessalake.com. Elegy Ellem – Sexy model and top Burlesque performer Elegy Ellem, who varies her performances from cute pin-up style with a twist to pure erotic fetish acts, will fly in from her native Sweden for the weekend. You never know what can happen when this sexy creature steps on stage, so prepare to be surprised and stunned when she performs on the main stage of the convention. Website - www.elegyellem.se. The Fuel Girls’ ‘Fire And Air Cabaret Show’ featuring the Amazing Ari and Collette – The Fuel Girls, who have a built a formidable reputation for the edgiest, sexiest, most adrenaline filled kick ass fire breathing, rock and roll dance and stunt show on the planet, will perform a very special set on the main stage of the convention. Their ‘Fire And Air Cabaret Show’, featuring the Amazing Ari and Collette, containing fire, aerial hoops, trapeze, not a lot of clothing and a whole lot of attitude, is simply breath-taking. Highly experienced aerial artist Collette, who has previously toured with Cirque Du Soleil, and is currently starring in the new Phantom Of The Opera show in the West End, will leave the audience open mouthed with her graceful and gravity defying moves as she swoops overhead in a stunning series of moves. The Amazing Ari, who has appeared in a variety of UK television features for both ITV and the BBC, specialises in aerial circus arts, aerial silk, Spanish web, corde lisse, static trapeze, aerial ring, harness work and fire dance. He will perform a double ‘Tango’ themed hoop show with Fuel Girl Teta, as well as his Sailor show on a rope, Moulin Rouge, Arabia and many more themed shows. Website – www.fuelgirls.co.uk Woodcut Portraits – Alex Binnie, one of Britain’s most famous tattooists and owner of popular London tattoo shop Into You, will present his exhibition of woodcut portraits for the first time during the London Tattoo Convention. A re-interpretation of the current woodblock prints that made Japanese Floating World Art so popular, 30 portraits of tattooed people, including some such famous international tattooists as Filip Leu, Jondix and Freddy Corbin, cut on wood and then printed on Japanese paper, will be on display. An alternative artistic journey between the traditions of the past and the world of modern tattoo, this is also Alex Binnie’s personal tribute to Japanese traditional art, of which he is a master with his works on skin. Alexbinnie.com The Oxford British Tattoo History Museum – Bringing the past to life with an extensive collection of evocative tattoo art objects, the Oxford British Tattoo History Museum is one of the most important world institutions in the history of tattooing. A historical / anthropological exhibition of tattoo art objects amassed by museum founder and curator Lionel Titchener, who began collecting in 1975, will be on display. This precious unique collection includes numerous ancient tattoo machines, much memorabilia, and a wide variety of tools used over the ages – from, for example, a small, carved Japanese bone to an old Roman tool of the 4th century BC. Chris Conn Seminar – Internationally acclaimed San Franciscan artist and tattoo genius Chris Conn, will hold a seminar on the design and rendering of the female face and form for tattooists. Chris, who worked as a tattoo artist from 1990 to 2006, when he retired to focus on his amazing art and illustration, will outline a system he developed over the years for generating solid, dynamic, female-subject designs quickly and efficiently with a minimum of reference. During the convention he will hold a three-hour-plus seminar for tattooists, focusing on achieving mood and drama with facial and physical expression, how to represent specific body parts and proportions (breasts, eyes, hair, hands, legs etc), use of shading and skin tone, keeping the balance between detail and clarity, how the layout and scale affect the drawing, ensuring a sense of life and spirit in the design, evolving your own personal style and much, much more. Visit Sekretcity.com for more info and to enroll in advance of the convention. Le Sante Peccatrici – (Sinful Saints / Holy Sinners). This exhibition, dedicated to the saints of the Catholic tradition, aims to show the strong and creative female face of the mainly male dominated tattoo sector. Promoted by Viola Von Hell and coordinated with Valentina De Rosa, Sofia Mesisca and Valentina Franzetti, 31 works of art, created by some of the best female Italian tattooists, along with a group of young promising international artists, will be on display. The artists involved worked with the figures of saints, each one generating a unique interpretation, using different formats, materials and techniques – pencil, graphite, acrylic, chalk, watercolour and oil paint on wood, card and cloth, to create striking images. The idea of using female saints as the main subject of the exhibition was not random; it was inspired by the stories historic, strong women who sacrificed themselves to support their beliefs. Tattoo Contests – As always, the biggest show on offer is provided by the visitors themselves, who will compete in the Tattoo contests for ‘Best Of Day’, ‘Best Back Piece’, ‘Best Back Ornament’, ‘Best Colours’, ‘Best Black And Grey’ and ‘Best Of Show’. For more info go to thelondontattooconvention.com, from which tickets are available priced at £20 for Friday, £30 for Saturday, £25 for Sunday, or £55 for a weekend pass.
