Tattoo Planet Magazine (The Netherlands) Issue 72- December, 2012

English translation:

Tattoo Planet 74
December 2012 - January 2013

Jayers

Tattoos from Hong Kong

Tattoo artist Jayers started her career as an apprentice at Solo, a Hong Kong studio where she now collaborates with Kenny Chin. In August, her work could be admired during the Dutch Ladies Convention. Remarkable about her tattoos is their sense of depth.

Before encountering tattooing, she was a badminton player and psychology student. “My tattoo history started in 2008 in the south of Thailand,” she tells us. “Prior to that, I tried to get an apprenticeship in Hong Kong, but I didn’t have an arts background and wasn’t able to show a portfolio. Therefore, I went to Thailand to work in a studio that educated new tattoo artists. Customers could receive a free tattoo. In hindsight, I think it wasn’t the best way to learn as I was only creating Thai tattoos. But I did start drawing a lot. After two months I went back to Hong Kong with something to show for it. That’s how I was able to become an apprentice at Solo, where I still work to this day. In 2010 I started tattooing full-time.”

Listening carefully

Kenny Chin became her mentor, her teacher. “I had a conversation with him where he asked me what my vision is about tattooing. My vision is: every tattoo artist has their own unique style, but the artist isn’t the one wearing the tattoo. Towards the customer you communicate your vision through the design of the tattoo, how it should be placed, what would be best. At the same time you have to listen carefully to the customer. Sometimes I receive strange or funny tattoo suggestions. It’s a challenge for me to be able to create them.”

In between

Traditional Japanese tattoos are very popular in Hong Kong, Jayers tells us. “I don’t care for them,” she adds, “although I do use some of their elements. I’m not someone with a specific style. I kind of fall in between styles. It’s never completely realistic, never completely old- or new-school, and I blend Japanese and western styles in my tattoos. I find it to be difficult, because most artists do subscribe to a specific style. But I try to create my own.”

Travelling

Jayers is pleased Kenny gave her the chance to become his apprentice and continue to develop herself. “Kenny is a good tattoo artist with a graphic background. It shows in his tattoos, which are very graphic and clear. He didn’t just teach me tattooing skills, but he also taught me how to run my own business. At the same time he pointed out that it’s the art that matters, not just the money. I’ve been working at his shop for a while now and want to spread my wings, want to learn more. That’s why I’ve started travelling. While travelling in Europe I was looking for conventions to work at, and that’s how I found the Dutch Ladies Convention. This is my second time tattooing outside of Hong Kong, but it’s not my first time in the Netherlands. I’ve been here before with the badminton youth team. While I’m travelling, Kenny has hired an apprentice tattoo artist.”

Tattooing at the Ladies Convention

During the convention I see Jayers tattoo Steve’s sleeve. It’s a tattoo with several element that has a lot of depth to it. “It was his idea,” Jayers explains. “I took it to heart, listened to it carefully. He wanted a samurai with a sword, a sexy female ninja, cherry blossoms, and a Japanese house and bridge. How to merge that into a tattoo he’s left completely up to me. I made the design in Hong Kong, and we’ve kept in touch. He was wondering how I would incorporate all those elements into the tattoo. I enjoy working with depth and don’t just place one picture next to another. Steve was pleasantly surprised when he saw the finished design.”

Chinese god of longevity

Jayers doesn’t encounter large pieces often, as there is very little demand for them in Hong Kong. In fact, people in Hong Kong are still rather skeptical about tattoos in general. She shows us several pictures of her tattoos, some of them very western, others with a Japanese touch but not very traditional in colour scheme. She points out a tattoo of the Chinese god Shou Xin. “It’s the god that represents longevity. The colours aren’t very traditional. He has a high forehead, modelled after a real-life goldfish with a similar forehead. The client is of Chinese heritage but was born and currently resides in Sweden.” Despite the fact that Jayers lives in Hong Kong, Chinese culture doesn’t influence her much, although one can find Chinese elements in her tattoos such as Shou Xin. “Hong Kong is very different from China because we were British for a long time,” she explains. “We were exposed to different cultures, and ended up a mixture of English and Chinese culture. That’s why, downtown Hong Kong, you’ll find traditional Chinese buildings next to modern ones. A client from New York that came to Hong Kong for the first time was surprised about how futuristic the city looks.” Lastly, she points out that there is another element from Chinese culture to be found in her tattoos, namely Chinese calligraphy. “Clients should be very careful when they choose to use it,” she emphasizes. “Often people choose Chinese letters without knowing their full meaning.”

If you wish to be tattooed by Jayers you can email her or find her on Facebook.

Text: Rik van Boeckel

Photos: Jayers

Solo Tattoo

Jayers Ko a.k.a JK

43d Duncan’s Street, Mong Kok

Kowloon, Hong Kong

Phone: (852)2398 3281

Web: www.solotattoo.hk