For the 21st edition, Agusto, the organiser and his team have succeeded in bringing a huge crowd, the rooms were full for the whole weekend. Since the first edition, tattooists attending the convention are known worldwide and are many. 300 artists were inking for 3 days.
On the other hand, we’re a bit remorseful since it’s the last edition happening in the Atahotel Quark where it took place for the last twenty years. The Hotel is going to be destroyed. It’s true that it was seriously getting old though. Only the good memories will stay for the numerous tattooists who did many parties (which probably explains the state of the rooms). The convention takes place inside the hotel. At night, the rooms transform into illegal pubs, in nocturnal tattoo shops, and even sometimes into discotheques ! The following days aren’t always easy. The artists often tattoo with a huge headache. There’s also a bar in the hotel where the waiters are often more drunk than the clients and where the drinks are not always at the same price (it depends on how much alcohol the barman had), we will miss it for sure. The unique restaurant where everyone meets to eat and the pizza place invaded by all the tattoo artists from the convention also It was the same every year, no surprises, but it was really cool.
This year we discovered the work of Aaron Spring with his realistic cartoon, Ad Pancho, really impressive, Alex de Pase, our friend Belly Button with his super graphic tattoos, Benjamin Laukis, Chris Crooks british tattooist now a master in the japanese style, Kostas, Leah Moule, Mike Woods, Nathan Evans, Randy Engelhard, Robert Hernandez, Steve Butcher, Theresa Sharpe, Tomasz Tofi Torfinski, Vero Imbo, Amy Mymouse, Dimitri Hk, Popeye Tatwo, Fabien Belveze, Steph D., Noka, Fabien Lucky 7, Julien Thibers etc... the list goes on, hundreds of artists came from the four corners of the planet.
For the 21st edition, the poster was made by Teresa Sharpe, beautiful illustration.
The programme for the week end was filled with tattoo contests, breakdance shows, as well as a pole dance show, expositions and tattooists on the grind. The usual programme ! We look forward to next year’s edition which will take place elsewhere and we hope the atmosphere will be festive like always. Thanks to Ago and his team. Article and Photos by DHK Translation by James C.
