Visual Resistance Tattoo
Positive reinforcement through the visual underground culture.
by Mitchell Weaver
Contents
Annie Frenzel Duncan X Kev Bee Marcin Surowiec Mitch Allenden Pari Corbitt Ramon Maiden Tanane Whitfiel Tom Gilmour Valentin Hirsch
3-4 5-6 7-8 9-10 11-12 13-14 15-16 17-18 19-20 21-22
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DIY production has long lived within the shadows of a mass consumerist market for generations, due to technological advances in production processes readily available for any person to use. This means of communication has defined an outlet of personal expression, without a need of conformity. Particularly in this case with the phenomenon which is Punk and Hardcore. Subcultures built up on unity, angst, expression and an anti-consumerist way of life. Aesthetically the culture has adopted an extremely hands on, do-it-yourself mentality which shows throughout the decades even existing with modern day Hardcore music.
The importance of the art of creating without being told how, what or why you should be doing it comes from a variety of social conditions, in which the individual has been exposed to. Taking into consideration Mike McGill’s account of punk culture, you can understand the clear correlation of the philosophy.
“I was raised by my parents, who are Irish immigrants, and instilled in me a rebellious and revolutionary way of thought, due to the history of their country” (McGill, M. 2012)
Note: All images and artwork used are subject to copyright and belong to the artists. Unless stated otherwise.
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A
nnie Frenzel
If there is one thing I am not particularly good at, it’s writing about myself. But since I went through all this trouble to get myself a little website, I figured I should tell you a little about and introduce myself.
My name is Annie and I am a tattoo artist. I moved to Raleigh, NC in 2003 and after not being able to find a suitable job for months, I was offered an apprenticeship in a local tattoo shop in 2004. With a background in art and the urge to make a change in the world, this was the perfect opportunity for me to express myself and make my surroundings more colorful on a daily basis. I worked in several shops in and around Raleigh for the next few years, and finally moved back to Germany in 2011. I found a new home at Lowbrow Tattoo Parlour in Berlin Friedrichshain and am working alongside 2 amazing artists: Sebastian Domaschke and Matthias Boettcher.
I don’t think I have a specialty really, but I love simple, strong and colorful designs.
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D
uncan X
http://www.duncanx.com/
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K
ev Bee
I don’t have any idea what I’m going to draw when I start it off. It just happens on it’s own, I have little say on what it wants to be.
I would sit and draw in diners for a long time, I didn’t really have anywhere else to do that. I didn’t have a studio space. So I kinda like sit, drink coffee, smoke cigarettes and
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draw. I would do that for years and years.
The markers that I use are alcohol based, so I figured out if you re-apply alcohol after the marker is already on the paper. It will activate the pigment. Once you set it on fire, it forces the pigment back on to the paper. I’ve been kicked out of banned from every diner from a 10mile radius of my house. For drawing.
Kev Bee - What Drives You ?
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Polish tattooist Marcin Aleksander Surowiec has mastered the art of neo traditional tattoos, seamlessly melding figural and abstract elements in a dazzling array of colours.
His work draws inspiration from music, old cartoons, old school tattoos, plants and animals, and traditional symbols and icons.
http://www.juxtapoz.com/tattoo/
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marcin-aleksander-surowiec
M
arcin Surowiec
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M
itch Allenden
Mitch Allenden is a tattooer based in Leeds, UK, with a distinctive illustrative style that crosses over to the beasts and elements he inks. Most of his work is particularly detailed, focussing on this throughout his image work. This creates a professional standard that is second to none.
http://www.juxtapoz.com/tattoo/tattoos-from-mitch-allenden
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P
ari Corbitt
https://www.facebook.com/Parikesit
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I was born in 1972 in Barcelona, but I’ve never felt bound anywhere and I have traveled extensively. I lived in other countries and I considered NYC as my second city. I have never studied art and my training as an artist has been entirely self-taught. My training, ideas, sources of inspiration‌ are all dynamic and changing, and so are the techniques and methods I employ. I try not to focus on anything too specific and progress by using different sources and experimenting. My training as a social worker, my passion for traveling, my family history and my experience with visual arts‌are all very diverse and not at all uniform, which allows me to be very creative. I recently started painting on wood, is a bit complicated because you have to be very careful and delicate, but the result is very rewarding. My work is a reflection of my way of life, my career, training, experiences, travels, interests. It is difficult to define and is constantly moving, growing and modified on the fly. I am very interested in history, the ancient religions, politics and my art is imbued with that.
http://blog.ramonmaiden.com/
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R
amon Maiden
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T
anane Whitfield
I was working as a brick and block mason for 4 and a half unforgettable years and walked into a local tattoo shop one day to sell some artwork and a tattooer asked me if I wanted to learn how to tattoo. It had never crossed my mind before, but someone was offering me something and it didn’t cost a thing, so I just told him “ya”, right then and there. It took 4 votes to get me in, and I started my apprenticeship the next day. My apprenticeship lasted two and a half years and Dave Lukeson, Cliff Evans, Sean Karn, Ben Edwards and Gabriel Cece put me through the most roughest, strenuous, awesome time of my life. . I have been published either for a tattoo or an interview in 5 different publications so far, all within my first year of being a legal tattooer. I’ve won 3 trophies; a first place for color, a first place for best of show and 2nd place for best small tattoo. What inspires me most are people I learned from, the tattooer Jessie Smith, comic books, graffiti, cartoons, random conversations, Gabriel’s beard, my daughters and all the weird twisted things that fly out of their vocal chords, and my wife’s creative hairstyling talents. I am fanatical about Eminem and love the art of J. Scott Campbell. When I’m not tattooing, I draw, spend time with my family, cook, hang out with friends, typical stuff.
http://www.tananewhitfield.com/
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T
om Gilmour
Tom Gilmour is an artist from London, England. He specializes in hand drawn black and white illustrations. Producing artwork with juxtaposing morbid imagery, mixed symbolism and relentless linework.
He finds his inspiration in native folk art, Asian patterns and early 80’s skateboard art.
http://www.tomgilmour.com/
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V
alentin Hirsch
http://valentinhirsch.com/
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Forever Selfless