image: north woolwich

When he was a child soldier, my grandfather got himself tattooed. His older self very much regretted it. He’s why I’ve always associated tattoos with old men, an old man in string vest and gardening trousers, asleep in an armchair. He gave me his opinion and reinforced it: I detest tattoos.

People who get themselves tattooed, and invite my reaction, particularly previously pretty ladies, don’t get quite what they might expect.

A tattoo is skin graffiti. There are many tattoo salons. There is only one Banksy. I’ve never seen a tattoo by a tattoo Banksy.

The craft needs a strong, fresh approach, a new school to overthrow the crappy tradition. It needs something to carry the craft to the time, in a decade or two, when technology allows tattoos to be animated.