The London Tattoo Convention – with MikI VIALETTO
When did the London Tattoo Convention first start?
The first London Tattoo Convention was held in September 2004.
Was it always at the Tobacco Dock Venue?
Actually no… We started in Brick Lane at the Old Truman Brewery. At the first London Tattoo Convention we invited around 300 tattooers, it was not the huge show it is today. We held the show at the Old Truman Brewery for 4 years, then my partner Marcus Berriman discovered Tobacco Dock, which at the time was not a very popular venue. Actually, I think I can say that the London Tattoo Convention put Tobacco Dock on the map, because at the time we were the biggest event to be held there. The reason we switched venues was to find a bigger place because the convention was growing fast and becoming a life style and cultural festival, not only a tattoo event, and Tobacco Dock was the best venue available in London for this.
How has the Tattoo Scene changed over the years?
The tattoo scene has changed a lot. The biggest changes in the recent history of the tattoo world happened in 2004 when the Discovery Channel released ‘Miami Ink’, the first tv show related to tattooing. It was the first time that tattooing reached such a huge audience and could enter every house in the world… since then, everything changed so rapidly. More and more people wanted to make tattoos and have tattoos, with a huge growth of tattooers and tattoo studios. After that, so many young talented artists decided to start their career in the tattoo world and they brought lots of new ideas and styles with them. With this huge new demand on tattoo suppliers, some medical companies decided to join the tattoo world because they saw a big business here for the first time. Before that, tattoo machines were mostly made by tattoo artists… in the last 15 years big companies hired engineers in order to produce machines that were much easier to use for the potential new tattooers. This brought the tattoo scene to where it is now.
Do you prefer the scene now? Or when LTC first started?
Every change brings both good and bad things. The good thing is that the quality of tattooing has reached a very high standard, in technique and quality. The bad thing is that the code of ethics and unwritten rules of tattooing are gone – and the mysterious magic that used to surround it. Now you have so many great artists but I find lots of them boring because it is very difficult to find something new. Everybody does the photocopy of somebody else… you see a new subject and a few weeks later you see that same subject repeated over and over by tattooers all over the world. In a way tattooing lost it’s exclusivity, it is like everything… when a style of music is underground it’s much more interesting than when it has success and goes to the masses. So I can’t tell if I prefer the scene now, I can only say that I miss the time when the scene was different.. ‘cause everybody in this world was feeling more special than they do today.
What is the hardest thing about organising a Tattoo Show?
To be unique… and to be unique that means spending a year finding new tattooers that nobody knows yet but they are inventive or they are doing something special. 90% of the organisers of tattoo conventions come to London, trying to get the tattooers that have been coming to our show for their convention, so they find all the best artists already in one place. Every year I have to spend days and days looking for new tattooers that are talented, special but mostly undiscovered – and this is very difficult, to offer every year for 16 years, the best of the tattoo world with the big tattoo legends and to discover the new stars.
What is the best thing?
Having the appreciation and support of every single artist that comes to London. For so many artists, London is the consecration of their career because when they enter and are accepted to LTC, they know they’ve reached a great level in their journey – you can’t just buy a place at London, you have to earn it. Meritocracy always been my vision since I started Tattoo Life Magazine 28 years ago. I believe this is why we are so well supported.
Who has been the most popular Tattoo Artist at the event?
Too many to mention, ‘cause all the best tattoo artists in the world have been to London: from Ed Hardy to Kat Von D, from Filip Leu to Tin Tin, from Ami James to Chris Garver.. the only one that I was really hoping for (and finally he will come this year) is Mr Cartoon.
Which countries do the artists travel from, to attend the event?
All over the world. We have artists from Europe, Indonesia, USA, Canada, South America, Samoa, Thailand, Singapore, China, Vietnam, Mongolia, India, Tibet .. almost every nation is represented at the convention.
Who has been the hardest artist to get to the show?
As I mentioned before – Mr Cartoon. He never goes to conventions; the last convention he attended that I am aware of was in Tokyo, a convention organised by Permanent Mark in the ‘90s.
What can people see at the show, apart from Tattooing?
Visitors can have a look at the many different art exhibitions that we put on. Our gallery is full of many different kinds of art from paintings to sculptures, pop-up installations and so on. Then of course we have live on stage entertainment from The Fuel Girls, two stages of live music, burlesque entertainment and more! We also have seminars from attending artists, an alternative marketplace to shop, street food, themed bar areas and more.
Any funny stories from the show, as an organiser?
I am sure there are many funny stories from the convention but unfortunately for a week I work and run around the show for 15 hours a day checking that everything is alright, welcoming artists and so on – being so busy that I don’t really have much time to enjoy the show! Marcus and I are working away behind the scenes to make sure that everybody has a great time and the chance to make their own great memories and stories.
What is your dream for LTC in the future?
I will be happy if London continues to shine a spotlight on tattoo culture, to maintain the ethics of tattooing, showcase great art… and we are working as hard as possible to make this happen!
Where can people see more about the show online?
You can check out our new website thelondontattooconvention.com and follow us on Instagram, @londontattooconvention, for all the latest news and updates.
