In preparation for Wednesday’s presentation, I started by doing some research on the styles that are in circulation today. In doing so, I was simply reminded of how many different styles of tattooing there are. Because of my interest in tattoos and my hopes to one day get one, I was aware of the tattoo styles that existed, but looking back on it, I never really bothered to categorize the tattoos and artists I like into styles. For this presentation, I looked through all the images of tattoos I have saved and started to categorize them in my head into both preexisting categories and categories I named on my own. In the end, I ended up choosing a tattoo artist that I didn’t think fit into one of the larger tattoo categories that are well known.
For my presentation on contemporary tattoo styles, I decided to describe and focus on the tattooing of a Korean tattoo artist named Gong Greem. I chose this tattoo artist, partially because I really want to get a tattoo from them, but also because I thought looking into them would give me some insight for my research. The first thing I noticed was that the didn’t have a website. Everything was done through Instagram and email, and this was actually common for a lot of the Korean tattoo artists that I like. In addition to this, they do not go by their name, but rather a pseudonym, Gong Greem. It seems like because of the illegality of their tattooing, anonymity is something they strive for. I also found myself intrigued by the fact that their tattoo studio seems to be their house, which also doubles as a gallery for their art. By using their space in such a way, it allows their studio to be in a place that is easier to find. I have also found that because the tattooing community in Korea is all underground, none of them really have any connections to any one tattoo studio. Rather, most seem to travel as visiting artists at other tattoo studios instead of staying in Korea and joining one there. Looking into Gong Greem for this presentation really just made me realize how different Korea’s tattooing community is and how our, America’s, ability to be so open with it is thanks to the changing public perception of them.