Skin deep
Whether you frown upon it or have a little ink yourself, tattooing is gaining mainstream popularity. Benno Stander rounds up a couple of local artists to talk trends and taboos.
Most people would like to believe that they don’t judge by appearance. When it comes to tattoos, however, just about every tattooed person will tell you that the us-and-them syndrome is very much alive in South Africa.
In Europe, America and even Asia it’s not uncommon for a bank manager or CEO to sport a full-arm tattoo, but around these parts anything more than your toddler’s name on the wrist seems to put you in the same category as drug dealers and muggers.
According to Sean Cue, husband of tattoo artist Serah Cue, “Times are changing, but I still see shopkeepers reaching for the panic button when I go to the store to buy milk.” Leroy Snyman of Scream ‘n Skin agrees and says, “People do sometimes treat you as if you are a circus act.”
Read more about the local tattoo fraternity on Get it Lowveld online.
