Wang Yuanyuan, Lai Junyu

    cheekywang@hotmail.com

    WALKING into Zhong Yu’s studio doesn’t feel like walking into a stereotypical tattoo parlor with tons of tattoo paintings on the wall, a cold, black chair in the middle of the room and even colder iron machines lying in a corner.

    Instead, Zhong’s Nanshan District loft is full of warm colors in a girl-punk style that’s made the place more of a hangout for avant-garde art and tattoo lovers than a workshop. The ambience helps many first-time clients feel relaxed and calm.

    With its unique style and professional techniques, Zhong’s studio, Lotus Ink Tattoo, is said to be one of the most recommended and popular tattoo parlors among expatriates in Shenzhen.

    “I’m not afraid to say that my studio is different from many other tattoo workshops because I am not selling tattoos but selling a culture, a concept and something I pursue,” Zhong said.

    Following a passion

    Born in 1984 in Shenzhen, Zhong’s childhood was a little different than that of many Shenzhen children.

    After spending a few years in the United Kingdom when she was little, Zhong entered the affiliated high school of the Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts and later graduated from the university’s 3D animation department.

    “I went to work at an animation company in Shanghai after graduation, with the dream of making China’s first 3D animation movie. But after working for a while, I felt like I was becoming a robot and just dealing with computers. That’s not what I expected, so I quit the job and came back to Shenzhen,” Zhong said.

    Zhong got her first tattoo with some friends at age 17 and loved the art form immediately.

    “After returning to Shenzhen, I looked back on my life and found that I really liked tattoo art, so I decided to do something in that area,” she said.

    Zhong said her professional painting skill could be her biggest selling point.

    “Unlike many tattoo artists in China, I have received professional painting training for more than 10 years, so I have strong basic skills in painting and design,” she said. “Also, I practiced traditional Chinese painting for seven years, so I know how to hold a brush very stably, and this is very important for a tattoo artist. And that’s why I found myself really suitable for being a tattoo artist.”

    Growing popularity

    Lotus Ink Tattoo opened in Shenzhen about five years ago.

    “In the beginning, all of my clients were foreigners and I did not expect that Chinese people — except gangsters or punks — would like this form of art. However, I found that over the past 18 months, there has been a sharp increase in the number of Chinese clients at the studio,” Zhong said.

    Zhong’s clients include people of different ages and backgrounds.

    “It’s really becoming a big hit now. From restaurant waiters to company CEOs, from barbers to school teachers, more and more people are starting to appreciate tattoos and change their opinions about tattoo art,” she said. “And unlike many people who have gotten tattoos in the past, these people have higher requirements for quality and clearer minds about what they are pursuing.”

    She said it’s very interesting to discover the differences between overseas and domestic clients.

    “Foreigners feel more calm about getting tattoos and know exactly what they want. Once they decide on a tattoo, they ask few questions and just leave everything to me,” Zhong said. “Chinese people are more nervous, always asking questions such as ‘does it hurt’ or ‘how does it look.’ I think foreigners have a better ability for spatial imagination, so they have fewer things to worry about.”

    A tattoo way of life

    In China, getting a tattoo has long been seen as something that’s not for good, normal people. Although times are changing, tattoos still are not widely accepted by most of the public.

    However, Zhong wants to change that situation. Over the past few years, she has organized various activities, such as parties and exhibitions, to introduce tattooing as an art form and a lifestyle.

    “I want to change perceptions and promote the culture. I want to pass the right concepts about tattoos to the public, to let them know what tattooing is really about and feel its positive energy in life,” she said.

    Zhong said she wants to create a regulated tattoo studio to introduce a fully qualified, safe tattoo experience, and that’s why she strives to keep her business small despite the increasing number of clients.

    “I want people to know that a tattoo is not something to get in a shabby place,” she said. “It’s another fun, quality way to express yourself in life.”