Over 200 tattoo artists worldwide coming together for 19th Montreal Tattoo Convention

Over 200 artists from around the world are coming to the Montreal Art Tattoo Show at the Grand Quai in Old Port this weekend. An event where Montrealers can learn more about tattoo cultures worldwide, and even get a flash tattoo session booked.

“You have people that do traditional Japanese by hand,” said Pierre Chapelan, co-organizer of the Montreal Tattoo Art Show. “You’re going to have people doing blackwork. You’re going to have people doing realism. You’re going to have people doing neo-traditional.”

The Montreal Art Tattoo Show is the only convention of its kind in the city, giving tattoo artists a platform.

We have people from Quebec, from Canada,” said Chapelan. “But we also try to have great people so people have an opportunity to get tattooed by people from Vietnam, or people from Australia, or people from wherever. So, you don’t have to buy a plane ticket and go.”

The event also features a photography exhibition on Japan’s tattoo art scene in the ‘50s – a stigmatized practice back then. Many artists – honouring the country’s centuries-old art form known as tebori.

“It’s hard to have a lot of clients and to have an active work schedule in Japan,” said Haru Urushido, apprentice to Horizakura, a Tebori tattoo artist based in New York City. “It’s still pretty much underground or it’s not that appreciated. But in the U.S. we can do as much as we want and we can do more things. In that perspective, we really just want to do what we want to do. I think it’s a great thing.”

Tebori tattoo artist Horizakura (left) and his apprentice Haru Urushido (right) at the 19th Montreal Tattoo Art Show. (Photo Credit: Diona Macalinga/CityNews)

One attendee, Marco Millin, decided to take the leap and get his first tattoo at the exposition by Tahitian tattoo artist Burns Paul.

“For me, it represents strength,” Millin said. “It’s something I’ve always wanted to do, and I guess I never had the courage to do.”

Kiosks lining the venue, selling taxidermy, books, and other little trinkets.

Tickets are on sale for $25, and $60 for the weekend pass.