We all know that tattoos are one of the most visually-effective ways to make a statement on the human form. If the ink is the author’s voice or wish, then the body is the ideal blank page for us all to read.  

With this in mind, let us divert our attention to 80 year old Mary Wohlford of Decorah, Iowa, who made her wishes abundantly clear after having the words ‘DO NOT RESUSITATE’ tattooed on her chest.

Wohlford’s final wishes have not only raised eyebrows, they have also raised some legal issues. A number of medical and legal experts doubt her tattoo would be binding in the emergency room or in court, but have credited the pensioner for her bold originality. Wohlford said: “People might think I’m crazy, but that’s ok. Sometimes the nuttiest ideas are the most advanced.” The state law defines caregivers are permitted to end life-sustaining measures, but a tattoo isn’t enough. Wohlford’s tenacity doesn’t stop here though. She also has a living will hanging on the side of her refrigerator! Here at Tattoo Fashion we appreciate the lengths people go to in order to get their point across. That reminds me, I need to call my Nan….     

This year we saw tattoo artists take conventional tattoo ideas out of the box and in to …well, just about everything!  

As well as eye tattooing, tattooing animals has because a new craze! Not only have dogs and family pets enjoyed getting ink done, but farm animals too. Vim Delvoye is one of the many tattoo artists breaking the mould with his extraordinary fleet of decorated bacon! Delvoye says: “I tattoo pigs because they grow fast and they are so much better to tattoo than fish. I tattoo them when they are young and I like the way the artwork stretches and distorts over time. Essentially, we invest in small tattoos and we harvest large paintings.”

For years now, animals have been tattooed and branding for identification purposes but when one missing poster in America featured “lost female Jack Russell: she is a family pet and has a “Hello Kitty” tattoo on her stomach” hit the press – a mass fad was soon to follow. Fish haven’t escaped either. Imported from Singapore, fish with symbols, hearts and spots are a new trend all around the globe! 

 Although many animal activists are making a fuss, it is hard to argue against tattoos for art, and not against tattoos for identification? Admittedly piercing your animals is taking body art one step too far in Tattoo Fashions opinion, but perhaps the artistic tattoos can replace the identification tattoos?   Maybe tattoo fashion will have to soon create some temporary pet tatts for the shyer animals wanting to try before they buy!! Watch this space!

This month, London plays host to the 4th International Tattoo Convention. Taking place on the 26th of September for 3 days, the convention will be held at Tobaco Dock and will be presented by Tattoo Life.  

Last year saw 20,000 visitors show up to the event and this year looks set to beat that number! This years change of location means that the event will be held in the Tabaco dock, a stunning Victorian venue near Tower Bridge, and the line-up looks to be bigger and even more exciting that before.

The line-up for entertainment includes new French tattoo innovator Dimitri Tatouages; as well as the sold out book exhibition of Flash: The Art Of The Mark; and the vixen that is Betty Lipstick and her new Tattoo Energy Calendar for 2009! Other artists include French emos, the Suicide Girls; Lucky Diamond Rich (the world’s most tattooed person); and Art Exhibition by Jesse Lee.