Since its creation in 2013, the artists we meet at conventions are full of praise for the Liege tattoo convention. The Walloon city welcomed the third edition of the event on October 10 and 11. It was time to see what Tox Cit’Ink had to offer.
Initially organized by La Fabrik, the convention took place this year near the center of Liege inside the Fonck barracks, an astonishing example of military architecture. Deserted by its cavalry regiment since 1998, these troops of future architects and art students now passionate about contemporary music meet in the different shacks across the Meuse.
From the opening, the convention starts fast and hard like Motörhead’s Rock Out and the long waiting line at the door along the brick walls of the barracks heralds an auspicious weekend and crowded alleys.
All kinds of designs emerged from the crackling of the 120 artists’ machines. However, the graphic style and other illustrative works are still on a roll in Belgium. Seven Echek (Black Ship tattoo Family, Malo-les-bains), L'Andro Gynette (on the road), Mika'Graph (Charleroi), Le Hégarat (ex Paupiette, Londres), Marco Slo (Tit for tat, Lille), Anaïs B (Spa) or Laurent Z (L'encre noire, Aix-en-Provence) produced quite attractive designs in this field.
Other foreign artists such as the Canadians Bert Monster (Tatouage Royal, Montréal, QC), Valday (Imago, Montréal, QC), Myriam Bolduc (Tattoo Shack, Québec) or British-by-adoption Delphine NoizToy and Laurent Maïna of Lacemakers Sweatshop laid their signature on Belgian skins while they were around.
And yet, the billing remained predominantly Belgian. We’ll remember the designs coming out of the needles of Brussels team La Boucherie Moderne, La main bleue (Mons/St Ghislain), freshly arrived Amy Mymouse, Eva Mpatshi (Beautiful Freak), Fabian of Lucky 7 (Aywaille), Sky (L'art du point, Charleroi), le sang neuf of Deuil Merveilleux, Manouche Caravane (Brussels), Black Bird (Turnhout) or Grizzly Ink, with Miss Sucette who created the poster for the event.
But above all, the great force of this Belgian convention lies in the organization and the quality of the reception of the artists. During an interview, Benoît Poelvoorde said about the Ardent City: “If you want to be happy and warmly welcomed, come to Liege!” Like Monsieur Manatane, JP, the organizer of the event and manager of the Liege boutique Grizzly In, is a great host.
A copious catering, comfortable booths, the competition broadcast on giant screens, vegan food trucks, the organizers put all their efforts to please the artists and the public. It reminds us of its cousin, the Arlon convention, that seduced us with its great hosting qualities. This coincidence can be explained by the friendship between Lou (the organizer of the Arlon convention) and JP, who claims to be influenced by the border convention and the experience of its boss.
The activities got down to basics, giving concerts and tattoo contests top billing. The live stage welcomed seven rock bands and five hip hop artists on a side stage, a wise choice to give the tattoo artists the best possible comfort.
If the first contests could have been brighten up by a "random" price, given the unequal quality of the designs, we were pleasantly surprised by the large designs and Best of day contests. The prices created by Laurent Viatour rewarded designs from Polynesian by Julien (Te Mana Tattoo, Montpellier), strong old school by Mors (La Main Bleue, St Ghislain), to epileptic graphic by Jubs (Contraseptik, Strasbourg), who wheelbarrows back home prices from the Liege convention since the first edition.
The weekend ended with the Best of Show where Inal Bersekov (B.R.O. Tattoo, Verviers) Won the price for best design of the weekend with a Ray Charles portrait, pulled off nicely by the Belgian who will remember his first participation in a convention.
If the only blot was the anchorman, whose little voice and coarse comments reminded of a Jean Marie Bigard’s performance at a sausage festival, the organization of Liege and Arlon conventions remains an example to follow for same-size events and our favorite of 2015 conventions. “Come back kid?” that we’ll do!
www.toxcitink.be
