Tattoo: People Nowadays Beauty Trend

James Wong showing his wife, Yean Cheah's tattoo which is completed by him helping him to win a trophy.

“Tattoos nowadays have become a beauty trend for people to express themselves.” Said tattooist Ying Ying.

What do you think about a people with tattoos? Trendy? Artistic? Or a sign of gangsterism?

Tattoos have always becoming a tool for people to express themselves. Tattoos have transformed themselves from being a gangsterism symbol into a beauty trend and even a tool to sublimate scars into tattoos!

"Our shop handles different customers requirements such as masculine tattoos with tiger and goddess images, feminine tattoos with flower designs, simple designs with words and numbers and even special designs to cover up scars and birthmarks." James Wong

Birthmark being turned into a peony designed tattoo completed by the shop.

Ink & Needles Tattoo Studio has come to the sixth year of operation. Ink & Needles Tattoo Studio has accumulated a high reputation among the tattoo lovers among Penang.

The shop is famous for its artistic and variety tattoo designs also with it’s persist towards the hygiene situation of the shop.

The tattoo artists in the shop includes James Wong, his wife, Yean Cheah and Ying Ying who joined the shop two years ago.

Trophies won by James Wong in the Party in Paradise 2019 competition.

In the previous international tattoo competition, Party in Paradise 2019, Ink & Needles Tattoo Studio had successfully won three trophies in different categories including one 1st trophy in black piece category and two 2nd trophy in black piece and traditional Asian category.

Shop owner, James Wong had designed a traditional Japanese koi (carp) design tattoo which brought him a trophy in the traditional Asian category.

The drawings in the shop have become James Wong inspiration in developing tattoo designs.

His wife, Yan Cheah had become his model for the tattoo. James Wong said that he had spent about nearly a week to complete the tattoo.

“My inspiration comes from the traditional Japan Ukiyo-E. I design the tattoo with my own understanding towards the traditional Japan art.”

James Wong is a tattoo lover since he is in secondary school. He is fascinated by the tattoo designs and decide to learn tattooing tactics from a tattooist.

He met his wife, Yean Cheah during his learning journey who is also a tattoo lover. They decided to open up their tattoo shop six years ago after earning enough venture fund from their previous job.

James Wong discussing with Ying Ying to complete the customer's tattoo design.

The shop handles different kind of tattoos from simple markings or symbols until huge tattoos that covered up a big amount of the body. Simple tattoos such as symbols and words only take up 15- 20 minutes to complete while big tattoos can take up around a day for completion.

“Our customers come from different gender and age group.”

Ying Ying said that usually first-time customers will tend to choose simple tattoos such as numbers or words while tattoos lovers will come to their shop regularly to improve and maintain their tattoos.

“Besides local customers, foreign travelers also often come to our shops to design their tattoo as a memory of their trip.”

Tattoo: A way for Me to Express Myself

Kenneth Foo is satisfied and proud with his tattoo.

Freelance photographer, Kenneth Foo have completed his own tattoo a few years ago.

The tattoo is a black tattoo with an artistic design of a flower. The tattoo covers his whole upper limb.

Kenneth said that he choose the tattoo design did not based on any specific reasons but just thinking that it is aesthetic appreciation as common as people doing ear piercing to decorate their bodies.

“To complete the tattoo, I have gone to the tattoo shop for around three times. Each time, the appointment takes up around a few hours.”

Kenneth said that he had been planning to do a tattoo since he was 18 years old. However, he worried about the responses of his family members so he did not take action until he started is career as a photographer in France.

“My friends in France encouraged me to do a tattoo. In their perception, tattoo is just a way to express themselves.”

Kenneth have faced questions from relatives asking him why does he choose to do a tattoo.

“I will make a joke with them saying that my tattoo can be washed up using water.” Kenneth said it with a funny tone.

Kenneth is planning to do tattoos with different themes in the future. He said that he might choose designs such as skeleton or Hannya (Japan ghosts) which differs from the flower tattoo which is more calm and peaceful.

“I hope that it can become a trend in Malaysia as people can treat others with tattoos without coloured glasses.”

Watch the tattooing process in the video below!