When I decided to get my first tattoo, I wanted to talk things over with my dad for two reasons: 1) he has a lot of ink & I figured he’d have some insight for me; and 2) I wanted to find out which tattoo parlor he recommended. As it turns out, my dad didn’t really have a lot to offer in the way of advice seeing as how most of his work was done in the gulliest of places. My first tattoo would be something I’d have to handle on my own. korea tattoo
There had been a name of a parlor I’d heard from a few people over the years, and without any actual homework on my part, I decided they’d be the spot where I got inked. As soon as I walked in, it was time to get down to business. There was no small-talk, portfolios consisted of picture binders at the front desk, and the walls were empty, leaving the stark, mustard-yellow color they were painted as the only ambience. About two hours later & a little lighter in the wallet, I drove home, excited to show my parents what I had done.
My folks actually liked the work, but what took my dad back was finding out WHERE I got my tattoo:
“Only bad dudes go in there. That’s a place most people don’t go.”
It’s this take on tattooing that has sparked a fervent back-and-forth about whether the term ‘tattoo parlor’ is the right kind of term to use nowadays in a modern body art world. To some, it describes an old-school place that feels edgy & unsavory. Even the designs & tattoo styles are traditional and rooted in past. To others, a ‘parlor’ simply refers to a space where discourse or commerce takes place.
Why does this matter? Well, body art is in a bit of a golden age where tattoos & piercings are not viewed under the same scrutiny and derision as before. An assortment of professionals in a wide variety of industries confidently wear their ‘work’ in full view of the world. There is no fear of repercussions and the stigma of body art has begun to wane over time. Most establishments offering tattooing & piercing are starting to use the term ‘studio’ over ‘parlor’ as a way of distinguishing the future of the craft. STUDIO embodies the idea of artistic creation and the importance of the creative space as a whole.
Modern body art is also pushing for greater heights in terms of th