Tattooists making mark with festival

JONATHAN CAMERON/Taranaki Daily News

SKIN DEEP: New Plymouth tattooist Paul Gledhill, with client Katy Dunn, is counting down the days to the New Zealand Tattoo and Art Festival.

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A tattoo festival being held in New Plymouth later this year has grown so quickly it will be the largest ever held in New Zealand.

Organisers of the New Zealand Tattoo and Art Festival, Brent Taylor and Luke McDonald, have been overwhelmed by interest in the November festival.

So many tattooists are attending, the event has outgrown its intended venue at the New Plymouth racecourse.

"Within about six weeks, it needed to grow," Mr Taylor said.

The show, which was originally to have 50 booths will now have 105 and showcase more than 140 international and Kiwi tattooists.

It has been moved from the racecourse to the TSB Stadium.

"They're coming from all around the world, from America, Japan, Singapore, Poland, England, Germany, Malaysia and Australia and lots of New Zealand's best artists as well," Mr Taylor said. The festival would be twice as big as any similar show held in New Zealand, he said.

Tattooing is the focus of the event, however, the festival will also feature piercing, skateboard art and Maori art, burlesque and four live bands, over the weekend.

Although the festival would attract those already adorned with body art, it was not solely for people who had put ink and needle to their skin, Mr Taylor said. "It's definitely family-orientated and for anyone interested in art or tattoos, and those with a fascination with them."

New Plymouth tattooist Paul Gledhill, of Ink & Anchor, will be tattooing at the show and said he's really looking forward to it.

"I hope it will take away that fear of the unknown that comes with tattooing," he said.

The festival will run on the weekend of November 27-28.

- © Fairfax NZ News