When skin is a canvas: More people are embracing tattoos and piercings

The popularity of tattoos and piercings has seen a tremendous surge in recent years, as more and more people embrace body art as a unique means of self-expression.

Passionate inkmen like Jade McLean have made it their life’s work to turn the body into a canvas. He’s been doing it for more than two decades.

Tattoos were not his choice of career, it was a happenstance affair that shifted his thinking from aspiring to be a graphic designer or creative in the advertising industry, to today.

He said: “I was working in London and to make money, I was selling my art.”

Finding his calling

Janis Joplin’s famous heart tattoo on her chest in the ’70s was said to spark it all. Part of his sales strategy was to sell his work to tattoo parlours.

“It was during one of these encounters that a tattoo artist asked me whether I’d be interested in learning how to apply my talent in body art. I started the next day and became an apprentice.”

He found his calling and has never looked back.

Jaded Ink, McLean’s studio in the northern suburbs of Joburg, is covered all over the wall in pictures, examples of his work, and paintings and drawings he and colleagues created.

It’s a friendly, inviting environment that reflects the passion he and his colleagues share for what they do and mirrors his larger-than-life, impossible not to notice when he enters a room, personality.

The coffee is good, the conversation great; friendly banter and laughter inevitable.

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Tattoo culture can be traced back thousands of years, with tattoos being used for various purposes throughout history. From tribal markings that signified belonging to a particular group, to religious symbols that held spiritual significance, tattoos have always been deeply rooted in human culture.

McLean’s appreciation for the history and cultural significance of tattoos fuels his appreciation for the art form.

Tattoos no longer associated with social misfits

Tattoos weren’t always popular. During his early years in the industry, tattoos were often stigmatised and linked to sailors, prisoners, and other less savoury groups.

However, as technology advanced and the industry evolved along with popular culture, so did people’s perceptions.

Nowadays, tattoos have become a form of personal expression and storytelling, allowing individuals to honour important events, loved ones, or simply display their creativity, he said.

For Mclean, tattoos can represent deeply personal experiences, with each piece capturing a moment in time for the wearer.

“As people acquire more tattoos, the significance behind each one may fade, giving way to the aesthetic qualities of the art itself.

“Nonetheless, the stories and memories embedded in each piece continue to hold a special place in the wearer’s heart,” he said.

Paying it forward

As popularity of body art surged, a wider range of tattoo styles and designs became available to cater to different tastes.

“Some people opt for bold statements, while others prefer subtle, intricate pieces. I love black and white realism and Chinese designs, but the possibilities are truly endless – with modern geometric designs and everything in between, the world of tattoo art offers a myriad of options for self-expression.”

Sometimes that could include a little bit of crazy. He remembers a client who wanted a specific bondage scene tattooed on her chest and abdomen. There was simply no visual reference for him to work on, to create the tattoo.

To solve this, he had his boss pose in compromising positions for a photograph, in character, to create the look the client wanted. It ended up being a giant laugh between them, and is a memory he would never forget. The client was thrilled, he said, with the result.

To keep up to date with the world of inking, McLean attends numerous tattoo conventions and events where artists gather to showcase their work, exchange ideas, and learn from one another.

He just loves what he’s doing, and McLean also feels a sense of obligation to teach, and to pay it forward.

He frequently takes in apprentices of his own, to teach, and provide a leg up for aspiring artists.

After all, it was an opportunity afforded to him.

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