Daniel DiMattia, Belgium At 54, DiMattia has been practicing his art for 40 years, having started on himself at 14. “I used the metal point of a compass from school,” he recalls. “I did it on my left forearm—it was a Christian cross that represented death for me, followed by a diamond with a big dot in the middle, which stood for feelings of isolation and being trapped. I definitely did it as an act of rebellion.” The self-taught DiMattia, who specializes in geometric patterns in black ink, gravitated toward tattoos evoking “tribal art, primitive works, African ornamental patterns and Polynesian art. So my clients tend to be people who like to travel and discover new landscapes and cultures, enjoy nature and are always searching for adventure.”
Ajarn Noo Kanpai, Thailand Kanpai, whose moniker translates to “Master Noo of Protection,” is a self-described master of Thai spiritual tattooing, known as Sak Yant. He is sought as much for his spiritual guidance as his artistry. His clients are even referred to as his “disciples.” They include Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie and other celebrities from around the planet. Kanpai gave his first tattoo while residing in a temple as a novice monk. His mystical tattoo designs typically involve intricately drawn lines of scripture and prayer, images of tigers and combinations of numbers, all meant to imbue their recipients with mystical properties and magical blessings, ranging from protection and luck to fortune and health.
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