This weekend marks the return of the TATAK International Tatu Expo at the Boardwalk Beach Hotel and Convention Center. Tattoo parlors, live competitions, food vendors, live music, raffle prizes, and more are all part of the three-day festival, which takes place from August 15–17. This year’s theme, according to host Dragon Edong, who has 46 years of tattooing experience, is culture and education. “The tattoo itself is our main concern. Studying tattooing, its background, and all of it. And you know, take something away from what happened today,” he continued.
Jullian Kaplan, a tattoo fanatic, returned to cheer on his friend and compete. He considers tattooing to be intimate. It’s the right to free speech. You should be acknowledged if you are a talented artist. I prefer to support local artists, especially here in the area,” Kaplan stated. “Tears on my skin… everything represents a time, or a memory, friends and family, past or present,” he says of his tattoos. According to seasoned tattoo artist Alycia Harr, conventions offer artists an opportunity to network, exchange styles, and learn. “It’s such an amazing honor to be able to make art for people that will last a lifetime,” she remarked.
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