Altblackpool’s Linda Hampton took a trip to the end of North Pier to visit the Tattoo Art Exhibition exhibiting work by international artists who have set out to challenge public perception of tattoo artists. The exhibition showing in the Sunset Lounge on North Pier has been produced by Inkden Tattoo Studio in Blackpool, run and owned by tattooist Przemek ‘Shamack’ Malachowski and Anna Paprzycka.
They aim to showcase the connection between art in a range of different mediums and tattooing. The event plays host to multi-award winning international artists, as well as some fantastic up and coming talent, all displaying their unique styles of artwork from drawing, painting, digital artwork, pyrography (the art of decorating wood or other materials with burn marks) , sculpture and many more.
The artists, Adrianna Grzelak, Shamack (Przemek Malachowski), Filip Pasieka, Gzy Ex Silesia, Danielle Merricks, Holly Andrew, Jordan Oterski, Vitaly Tattoo, Patryk Mazur, Kat Wilson, Sandy Green and Max Pniewski all aim to show how art and tattoos influence each other and how the same results can be achieved on the skin as can be applied to canvas. The exhibition opened last weekend with a black tie reception and live bands playing acoustic sets throughout the night.
An auction of original art work raised funds for Tristan’s Light House on Lytham Road in Blackpool, a multi-light sensory play area, which helps to make arts and music more accessible to people with sensory disabilities. What really stands out here is the message that tattoo artists are qualified fine art practitioners who use other mediums as well as tattooing to express their creativity. The framed artworks were representative of the individual styles of each tattooist and all were equally worthy of being in a frame as on a body part. Przemek Malachowski’s 3D pieces illustrated the inspiration for the tattoos that the artist can deliver. Tactile designs in black and silver were reminiscent of steampunk style, sculpted on shapes that reflected perhaps a human calf or arm. A fascinating departure from tattooing that took on a life of its own, each piece a work of art in its own right. The exhibition shines a light on the art of tattooing and demonstrates that this particular branch of art perhaps does not always get the respect it deserves. The exhibition is free entry and continues until Tuesday July 3rd at the Sunset Lounge TODAY, Blackpool North Pier. So if you are free get down there and enjoy the sunshine and the art.
Photograph of Przemek Malachowski courtesy of Anna Paprzycka
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