Tattoo Malaysia Expo 2019 is Malaysia's biggest body art event ever

A woman has both arms tattooed at the same time during an international tattoo convention in London in September. — AP

Artists to seek out at Tattoo Malaysia Expo 2019

As many as 150 artists will be at Tattoo Malaysia Expo 2019. If you’re keen on getting inked for the first time, finding the right design and artist can be daunting. You might have questions or reservations, but be assured that everyone has the same goal – to ensure that all body art is done safely and hygienically. But don’t hesitate to talk to them. Here are some folks to look out for:

Gabe Shum from Hong Kong is the founder of Freedom Tattoo, whose clientele include David Beckham and LeBron James. He also organised the Hong Kong Tattoo Expo for seven years. Shum will be conducting a workshop at the KL expo.

Guy le Tatooer from France is not just well-known among his peers but with tattoo fans too. He is a second-generation artist whose tattoos feature mostly intricate line work.

Christian Nguyen from Switzerland is the founder of the Inkvaders Studio and is known as a celebrity tattoo artist. Nguyen’s clientele includes the musicians/rappers from Cypress Hill, Limp Bizkit and Korn, to name a few.

Ernesto Kalum is Malaysia’s own tattoo celebrity. He is the founder of the Borneo Headhunters Tattoo Studio in Sarawak and is the only Malaysian to be listen in the book, Mondial du Tatouage, which was published in France. He was also featured in the National Geographic documentary series, Taboo, in 2003.

Marco Leoni from Italy is the founder of Brazil Tattoo Club and has been in the industry for 40 years. He is also the organiser of the first ever tattoo conventions in Brazil and Italy.

Ash Goh of Tejomaya Studio in Singapore is a tattoo artist, an illustrator and a tarot deck creator too.

The expo will also feature live music from local music bands like Infiltrate, Ogoshi Rebels, Mothflesh, Born Heroes and Fractured. There will be activities, games, contests, and educational workshops for kids too. For details, go to Tattoo Malaysia Expo’s Facebook page.

---

Tribute

Sadly, one of the artists expected at Tattoo Malaysia Expo 2019, Norm Will Rise from Love Letters Tattoo in Los Angeles, died on Oct 12. Norm, born Eric Rosenbaum, was a well-known graffiti and tattoo artist in the US and had joined previous conventions in Sabah. He was a member of some of the best-known graffiti collectives in the US, namely Angels Will Rise, Mad Society Kings and The Seventh Letter. He will be greatly missed.

Norm Will Rise got a traditional Thai tattoo at the first Sabah International Tattoo Convention in 2015. Photo: The Star/Melody L. Goh

�