Skull tattoos - a cult classic!

May 1, 2020 Thomas Mcmillan

“A sacred symbol of luck or intellect, protection or fear, flesh or the soul, death or resurrection, divinity or the devil, it’s mystical and spiritual powers have captivated humanity and cast the skull as an emblem for the human consciousness, a memento mori through which to explore the transience of life, death and the human soul” - The Book of Skulls, by Faye Dowling.

Skulls have long been a fascination for the human psyche. Morbid lot, aren’t we? This fascination may come across as being obsessed with death, which is fair, however there is more to the symbolism of skulls than just death and decay. Going back thousands of years, we have seen skulls heavily depicted in mythology, religion, literature, architecture, art and fashion. When you think about it, perhaps the skull is the most iconic and recognisable symbol humanity - when all else is stripped away, a skull is the one feature that shows that we are human beings.

In more modern times, skulls are synonymous with the counter culture. Rock n’ rollers, punks, skaters, motor cycle gangs and goths are all known to adorn themselves with skulls, whether thats through a tattoo, a patch, a band t shirt or artwork, skulls are definitely prevalent within these sub cultures of society.

Even though the sight of a pink haired kid wearing a Misfits t-shirt might unsettle your nana, history would argue that the skull has not exclusively been used to invoke thoughts of intimidation, fear or rebellion. Perhaps it’s quite the opposite. Skulls, worn as jewellery by Gods in many Eastern religions, serve as a reminder of the frailty of life. Mortals, unlike their Godly counterparts have no ownership over this. A subtle token that we have one life, and we should use it now, as in one fleeting moment it could all be undone. That’s a pretty positive message!

Skulls will always be a revered, thought provoking tattoo. It doesn’t matter if you get a skull because you’re into the idea aesthetically, or you want to carry a visual memento around with you forever, seeing as we can trace skulls in ancient arts over 5000 years ago, I think we can safely say they’re more than a logo for a rebellious teen. A timeless classic subject that fluidly transcends all styles of tattooing, you can never go wrong with one of the most recognisable symbols of all time, the humble human skull.

Sunset Tattoo studio is located in central Auckland, New Zealand, and is home to some of the countries best tattoo artists. We specialise in Japanese, Maori, western traditional and black work tattoos. For requests, bookings and more information regarding our stellar artists, please contact the studio.

CONTACT:
www.sunsettattoo.co.nz
info@sunsettattoo.co.nz
(+649)3763423

Maori flora and fauna tattoos

April 28, 2020 Thomas Mcmillan

Our resident Ta Moko (traditional Maori tattoo) artist Manawa Tapu has enjoyed having time to paint during the government ordered Covid-19/Coronavirus lockdown.

As well as being an incredible tattooist, he is also a phenomenal painter, and also wood carver. It’s really cool to see the different skill sets tattoo artists have when using other mediums than skin!

Close up of “Prey for Eyes” by Manawa Tapu.

Manawa Tapu has been painting a bunch of New Zealand/Aotearoa flora and fauna, which is quite different to what we usually see from him. One of our favourite pieces is this Pāpaka (crab), which as well as being a wicked painting is available to be tattooed. Manawa Tapu would love to tattoo more native New Zealand/Aotearoa species - what would you like to see done in this style?

New Zealand is home to incredible bird, insect and aquatic life. Due to our little nation splitting away and becoming a stand alone set of islands over 50 million years ago, our species evolved some interesting quirks. Birds becoming flightless was one of the most interesting traits, as birds had no dangerous mammalian predators. In fact, the only land mammals native to New Zealand are two types of small fruit bat.

Manawa Tapu’s “Prey For Eyes” shows a Battle Royale between the extinct Haast Eagle and Moa. The Haast eagle was the most impressive eagle the world has ever seen, with a wingspan of 3 meters and claws as strong as a tigers. The Giant Moa were flightless birds that stood around 2 meters in height, and seemed to be vegetarians. These epic birds are just two examples of New Zealand’s incredible avian creatures.

If you’re interested in showing your love for New Zealand’s gorgeous native flora and fauna, represented with beautiful Maori pattern work by the one and only Manawa Tapu, please get in touch with the studio to discuss your ideas.

For expressions of interest, booking requests and general information please contact the studio.

CONTACT:
www.sunsettattoo.co.nz
info@sunsettattoo.co.nz

The Rose of No Man's Land tattoo - let's show some love to our caregivers!

April 25, 2020 Thomas Mcmillan

Rose of No Man’s Land is an unmistakeable western traditional tattoo reference, classically depicting a traditional ladies head either centred inside or surrounded by red roses. Upon her head, she wears a nurses cap with a Red Cross in the middle, and often there will be another Red Cross in the background.

Although the exact origin of the Rose of No Man’s Land tattoo is unknown, it seems to have popped up sometime in the early 20th century, and is attributed as being an artistic representation of the song, and a way to memorialise the Red Cross Nurses who helped save lives on both the frontline, at military bases and back at home. The Rose of No Man’s Land is a song first published in French (“La Rose sous les Boulets”) in 1918, the year World War One officially ceased. A version in English was recorded and released in 1945, when World War Two was coming to an end.

No Man's Land is the term used by soldiers to describe the ground between the two opposing trenches in times of conflict. The lyrics to the song “Rose of No Man’s Land” are as follows:

There's a rose that grows on No Man's Land
And it's wonderful to see,
Tho’ its sprayed with tears, it will live for years,
In my garden of memory.

It's the one red rose the soldier knows,
It's the work of the Master's hand;
Mid the War's great curse, stands the Red Cross nurse,
She's the rose of No Man's Land.

Imagine being a solider grievously harmed on the battlefield, lying there, terrified that you wont survive your wounds. Miraculously an angelic figure dressed all in white appears and tends to your wounds, helps you back to safety, thus saving your life. These brave women, the Red Cross nurses of World Wars One and Two, were viewed as saviours by the many service men they treated.

The Rose of No Man’s Land tattoo appeared in early sketchbooks of western traditional tattooing greats as Gus Wagner, Norman Collins (aka Sailor Jerry) amongst many others. It quickly became a staple reference within the tattoo industry, which really shows how much of an effect the heroic actions of the Red Cross nurses meant to service men around the western world. Soldiers felt so indebted, so eternally grateful to these nurses, their “Roses”, that in turn they had them immortalised forever on their bodies in the form of a tattoo. A talisman for both their time spent in combat, and for the courageous women who kept them alive to live out their days in peacetime.

Although it’s been over 100 years since The Rose of No Man’s Land first popped up, and many of us are lucky enough to have lived a relatively peaceful life, this classic tattoo is still as popular as ever. The Rose of No Man’s Land may no longer represent a wartime Red Cross nurse exactly, but it is still an undying symbol of respect to our many caregivers around the world. A high stress career, which is often majorly underpaid and under-appreciated by governments and employers.

Despite the fact so many of us are lucky enough that our countries have been in peacetime for much of our lives, the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic has been compared to dark times in modern history. Only this time the enemy is not being fought in the trenches, there is still a very dangerous front line for healthcare workers and caregivers around the world. Communities have been devastated with over two million people (and rising) diagnosed with the virus, tens of thousands have died, personal freedoms have been taken away as people head into ordered isolation and economies have been hit the hardest we’ve seen in decades. In the United States alone, the number of fatalities has already surpassed those from the Korean War, and conservative estimates predict the number will rise to more fatalities than both the Vietnam War and the 1968 flu pandemic. Higher estimates put it above the fatalities of the 1957/1958 flu pandemic and US soldiers lost in the First World War. Caregivers are literally working on the frontline of this pandemic, making huge sacrifices to help save lives. We’ve seen instances of health care workers separated from their families to ensure it doesn’t get passed on, retired workers (who are generally older and more at risk) come out of retirement to lend a hand, and unfortunately we’ve also seen health care workers perish at the hands of this viral enemy.

The faces of front line workers. Doctors, nurses and caregivers show their battle scars after hours in emergency departments and isolation units treating Covid-19.

The Rose of No Man’s Land tattoo, a nurse nestled in amongst bright red roses, is the definitive symbol of generosity, courage, sacrifice and caregiving. Much like the loved Red Cross Nurses of days gone by, healthcare workers are amongst the most selfless people to exist. The Rose of No Man’s Land in current times still carries the important message of appreciation, adoration and respect for frontline healthcare workers, and hopefully when they see someone with this beautiful image, they feel proud of their sacrifices, supported in their chosen path and less alone in one of the most lonely, dark days of our time.

Sunset Tattoo is one of Auckland’s leading tattoo studios, and the home to many of Auckland's best tattoo artists. We have artists who specialise in Japanese, Maori, western traditional (examples shown in this article) and black work tattooing. Stunningly beautiful and utterly timeless, western traditional tattoos consist of bold lines, bright colours and classic designs intended to last a lifetime. Fashion fades, style is forever. For enquiries, booking requests and more information about getting tattooed by one of our traditional artists please contact the studio.

CONTACT:
www.sunsettattoo.co.nz
info@sunsettattoo.co.nz

Here kitty kitty! Some of our favourite cat tattoos from the studio.

April 23, 2020 Thomas Mcmillan

Hey all you cute cats and kittens!

If you have, or have had a cat before, you will understand how much we love our feline friends. If you haven’t had a cat before, you probably think cat people are kinda weird. Cats really are our Supreme Leaders, and unlike dogs, we don’t really own them. Apparently, they think of themselves as equal (or in many cases, better than) their human companions, and evidently were never truly domesticated. They just kind of began hanging out with us, because where we went, rodents went. It’s one of those beautiful symbiotic relationships you see occur in nature, like the birds who clean crocodiles teeth. Except, it seems like cats have it clocked. We feed them, we provide shelter for them, we clean up after them, we even create Instagram accounts for them so we can show the rest of the world how much we love them. What do they do? They’ll jump on our laps while we’re watching trashy TV, and maybe if we’re lucky, and throw up on our bed from time to time.

At our studio, we see plenty of people come through to get cat tattoos. Cat tattoos range from super cute to super bad ass, and literally transcend all styles. No matter what the artist specialises in, they can do you a cool cat tattoo. The world is your cats oyster!

Japanese cat tattoos:
Japanese tattoo style works purrfectly (see what I did there?) when considering getting a cat tattoo. Cats or “Neko” are a super popular subject matter in Japanese tattoos. From the good luck charm, the Maneki-neko, to Horitomo’s Monmon cats, to the Yokai (ghost/demon/spirit) Nekomata, these tattoos are commonly imprinted on peoples skin by Japanese artists. Also, big cats such as tigers make fabulous tattoos.

Traditional cat tattoos:
Traditional cat tattoos are awesome! This bold, timeless old school tattoo style works wonders for most subjects, cats included. Aside from the usual household kitties, a classic reference in American traditional tattooing are big cats such as panthers, tigers, leopards, cat ladies, etc. No matter if your cat is colourful tortie, or a slinky black cat, western traditional style will depict the cat you idolise beautifully.

Black work cat tattoos:
If you’re after a beautiful sketch like tattoo of your cat, look no further than blackwork for your cat tattoo. As you can see by our artist Magali Corpas’ tattoo of bad boy Bobby, she has done an incredible job of his portrait tattoo, capturing his features perfectly. Magali loves tattooing pets!

Throughout history, many cultures have worshipped cats. Dogs may be mans best friend but cats are our best frenemies. They might not give you the slightest indication that they give a crap about you, maybe they bite or attack your face while you’re trying to sleep, and leave dead rats on the front door step, but these neurotic creatures have us wrapped around their little paws. And that’s just the way we like it. Why not immortalise your beloved master on your body for life by getting a tattoo? We’d love pets, contact the studio for more information - and make sure to include plenty of photos of the your kitties!

By Capilli Tupou and his son (aged 6 years at the time).

Sunset Tattoo studio is the home of Auckland’s best tattoo artists, and we specialise in Japanese, Maori, traditional and black work tattoos. Our friendly team are incredibly versatile and would love to help you make your tattoo dreams a reality. For booking requests, enquiries and further information please get in touch!

CONTACT:
www.sunsettattoo.co.nz
info@sunsettattoo.co.nz

Get to know your Yokai! Kappa: a booty worshipping sex pest, or misunderstood cucumber eating village healer?

April 21, 2020 Thomas Mcmillan

A super fun subject to get tattooed when considering a Japanese tattoo are Yokai. Yokai are supernatural beings from Japanese folklore, ranging from shapeshifting animals, inanimate household objects which spring to life upon their 100th birthday, to loyal guardians of temples and other sacred sites.. the list goes on! Yokai serve both as stories to educate children to be careful and respect nature, all the way to reminding us of the ugliness of our own mortal feelings such as jealousy.

Kappa from Toriyama’s “Gazu Hyakki Yagyō” (The Illustrated Night Parade of a Hundred Demons).

There are hundreds of Yokai to discover, along with beautiful reference imagery of these mythological phenomena, which are a favourite to tattoo amongst Japanese artists. We thought we’d do a wee article series on some of our favourite Yokai from Japanese stories, so you can learn more about what they are, weird things they do, as well as show you how they can make rad tattoos!

One of the most famous Yokai is the Kappa. The Kappa is a water dwelling, upright walking, scaly amphibian humanoid creature flossed up with a creepy beak, turtle shell, European monk like haircut and a dish of water on his head. He’s only as tall as a child or smallish monkey, but he packs a serious punch as long as his dish of water he carries on his head is full. Remember this important fact regarding the water dish, there is a chance it could save your life if you ever have to pull a fast one on a Kappa in your life. More to come on that soon!

Kappa generally hang out in bodies of water, such as rivers. The name Kappa translates roughly to “River Child” or “Water Sprite”. They are said to smell heavily of fish, possess incredible strength and enjoy dragging people, horses, cows and other animals much larger than them down under water and holding them there until they drown. Nice. They also have a penchant for eggplants, melons, squash, but mostly cucumbers and.. anuses. Yep, anuses. Kappa are MAJORLY into the butt. So not only are these water dwelling creatures strange and dangerous, they’re also a bit freakaaaaay. It’s said that they like to drown people, because the butthole apparently loosens up while you’re drowning, so it makes it easier for them to suck a small ball called a “shirikodama”(thought to be the human soul) said to be located in the anus that the Kappa has an acquired taste for. They drown you, to suck your soul out of your butt. Take a minute for that to absorb if you need to!

If you ever needed a reason to keep out of an unfamiliar body of water, fear of a Kappa assault is a pretty good one. Maybe next time you’re going to a lake for a swim, bring a cucumber to chuck in the water as an offering, just in case.

Although once feared, in modern times Kappa are generally beloved and used to warn people about dangerous bodies of water, and to also educate people about keeping rivers, lakes, ponds and the ocean free of pollution.

Another kink of the Kappa is to loiter deep inside of toilet water. If you remain on the toilet for too long, they may try and stroke your butt or even suck your soul out while you’re taking your time on the toilet. If you’re a woman, there is also a chance they will try and impregnate you with a creepy Kappa/human hybrid baby. Perhaps this is a reminder to include a good amount of fibre in your diet? Definitely a good reason to avoid the old “shit and scroll” if I ever heard one.

Aside from it’s sex-pest tendencies, Kappa do have some admirable qualities. A Kappa is extremely strong, both in the water and on land, but he isn’t a thug. He’s actually incredibly well mannered! Remember the dish of water he carries on his head? This also his Kryptonite. He loves to be challenged to a wrestle, and before wrestling, you must always offer a deep bow to your opponent. When he bows, the water spills from the dish, and the drier the dish the less powerful he becomes. The deeper your bow, the deeper he will bow in return, rendering him pretty much powerless. It is said that once you have outwitted a Kappa, he will be your friend and fierce protector for life. Which can come in handy, as he is said to hold great mastery in medicine, helping his friends recover from health ailments and broken bones. So it pays to be vigilant around water, and remember your manners in case you ever encounter one of these mysterious Yokai. Who knows, you might make a friend for life.

Sunset Tattoo is the home of Japanese tattooing in Auckland, New Zealand. We are obsessed with Japanese tattoos! If you’re considering getting a Yokai tattoo, or any other Japanese subject, get in touch with the studio to turn your tattoo dreams into an reality. We have multiple artists who specialise in this revered style, each with their own personal flair. For more details, contact us!

CONTACT:
www.sunsettattoo.co.nz
info@sunsettattoo.co.nz