THE F O RT BE PA
BAMBOO TATTOO REVOLUTION
Sak Khanom is a freelance tattoo artist who performs the ancient practice of Tebori tattooing He sits examining his 25cm Tebori needles with his Japanese and Thai inspired tattoos visible on his arms and legs. He is about to demonstrate his way of tattooing without an electric needle in site. Sak Khanon practices the ancient art of Tebori tattooing, a form of tattooing that has been practiced in the Far East for hundreds of years. Tebori is performed by positioning a 25cm bamboo cane or metal stick like a snooker cue, using the thumb to aim the 12 tiny needles attached to the end. It is then dug in to the skin in a precise way that you would only trust
a confident artist to perform. They are often done in silence with the only sound heard is the “pricking of the needle going in and out of the skin, which freaks out a lot of people getting one for the first time.� Little is known of the art in the UK, with only a small number of parlours offering the unique style of tattooing. Tebori, also referred to as bamboo tattoos, is usually associated with very experienced tattoo masters in exclusive tattoo shops in Japan and other Eastern countries, however Sak is very young compared to your average artist. He recently moved to the UK to
SAK KHANOM ARTIST PROFILE
start a family but has carried on his passion. “My natural environment for tattooing is on the beaches of Thailand, where there is much inspiration and there is no pressure. The beaches in the UK aren’t quite the same but I’m sure I will find a place that gives me just as much inspiration.” Typically associated with Japanese artists, Sak does not think his nationality affects his ability to create successful Tebori tats. “Since I was young I have been interested in art and I’ve been sketching for as long as I can remember. Tebori just seems more natural, it reminds me of a colouring book when I pick what colours to use. I have sketch books full of potential tattoos and someday hope to cross them all off, there’s nothing better than transferring sketches to skin.”
He takes his shirt off to reveal an array of Tebori tattoos raging from Geishas to koi fish, with the intricate shading that can only be acquired through this ancient art. “Where I live it is the
‘There’s nothing better than transferring sketches to skin’ norm to use bamboo for tattoos, it is rare that you will see a machine. In the UK it seems that anyone who can access the internet can order an electric needle and think of themselves as artists, Tebori takes years to learn and decades to perfect.”
The after effects of Tebori tattoos is often less painful than machine ones with less burn and quicker healing, which seems to be down to less irritation of the skin. This can be hard to believe after watching the bamboo cane repeatedly punch the skin is a seemingly very painful way. “It looks much worse than it is. There is no gentle way to perform Tebori and if you were unaware of it, you might think you were watching something being repeatedly stabbed!” You will have to look long and hard for a Tebori tattoo in the UK, with many people opting to visit countries such as Thailand and Japan to be sure they get an authentic tattoo. In recent years there has been an increase in popularity surrounding the art, with tattoo enthusiasts wanting to experience the different styles that tattooing has to offer. The
SAK KHANOM ARTIST PROFILE look of a Tebori tattoo is different from your average machine tat. The way the colours blend together gives the finished product an almost 3-D look, particularly with scales of dragons and feathers of birds. Also, where some machine tattoos fade with age, Tebori tats seem to grow in beauty as they get older. Sak’s tattoos combine the traditional dragon and koi designs with intricate tribal designs that have become very popular in the UK. “It’s fun to mix cultures and create something that lots of different tattoo fans will like. I found that in the UK a lot of people want tribal tattoos but with an Japanese twist, so adding flowers can give the sharp bold tribal a more delicate look.” Despite moving away from Thailand, Sak has no intentions of hanging up the needles. “I still regularly tattoos friends that I’ve met in the UK. I find Tebori more of a hobby than a profession but if the art gains enough popularity in this country and I get offered a job it would be hard to say no.” Tebori tattoos, much like tattoos in the UK, started off being generalised as criminal stamps because of the association between the art and the Yakuza, who’s members would frequently be seen with full-body tattoos. This resulted in a stigma surrounding Tebori, which has only recently been lifted due to it’s popularity with the younger generation and tourists. Although he has been practicing the art for over 10 years, Sak does not consider himself a Tebori master “I still have a lot to learn with this art and it will be harder for me to learn now that I live away from Thailand, but I enjoy challenges and I want to get as good as possible.” With the tattoo world in an extreme evolutionary stage, it can be assumed that it is a matter of time before Tebori becomes a popular form of tattooing in this country, with individuals like Sak Khanom leading the Tebori revolution.
‘The Tebori Sound’
There is a very distinct sound when the needle is plucked back and forth in to the skin that Tebori masters call ‘shakki’.