Horiyoshi iii biography of barack
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FEATURE: Japan tattooist draws line between art, underworld
AFP, TOKYO
For tattoo artist Horiyoshi III, the skin into which he sinks his ink-infused needle is a canvas for the myths and legends of Japan — where body art is indelibly linked to the criminal underworld.
The mountains and waves of 18th-century art, or fabulous mythical creatures are a far cry from the stylized designs so common in the West that might usually draw disapproval from parents and teachers, but the tattoo in Japan has a much worse reputation, associated with the violent gangsters of the yakuza criminal underworld — an association that ink proponents argue is unfair.
Horiyoshi — who uses the modern metal variation of a bamboo stick still favored by some traditionalists — says his biggest inspiration is Hokusai, an artist famed for woodblock prints of a tsunami against Mount Fuji.
Photo: AFP
“But I am also influenced by other Japanese artists,” he said at an exhibition of his work — with all live subjects — last month in Tokyo, citing Utagawa Kuniyoshi, known for his landscapes, mystical animals and samurai swordfights.
“And of course I do not exactly reproduce their works: I have to adapt their designs to the bodies on which I work,” he said.
Former gym teacher Asad
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Horiyoshi III
Horiyoshi III is revered by tattoo enthusiasts as possibly the world's greatest horishi, or full-body tattoo artist. (Horimono are tattoos done purely for fun, while irezumi are tattoos that mark criminals.) Friendly and too cool for words, the 61-year-old loves digging his needle into people — he definitely gets under their skin while doing his beautiful works. Although Horiyoshi considers the human body as his canvas, he has published 10 books of artwork on both paper and skin. His latest collection of drawings, "36 Ghosts," arrived in bookstores this month.
A master knows his own mistakes and wants to erase the evidence. I heard of a swordsmith who was dying and ordered his apprentices to find and destroy all the swords he had made when he was younger. I wish I could do that with some of my earlier tattoos.
One must suffer for beauty and for art. Normally women and artists experience such pain, but in my business it is the client, especially since it is illegal to use painkillers while tattooing. Although it's a real pain to be poked at, the results are so amazing that people are happy to lie down to suffer for at least one hour a week for about two years.
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'108 Heroes another the Suikoden'
Tokyo Vanilla Gallery
Closes Jan. 30
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