SNP’s word of the day: Ink

Illustration by Lewis Mirrett
Illustration by Lewis Mirrett

Word: Ink

Meaning: In this case, slang for “tattoo.”

Usage: “Let’s get inked,” we imagine Lady Gaga said to LA Ink artist Kat Von D.

You should know it because: inked skin is in. Once the provenance of prisoners, rebels, and 16-year-old girls on spring break, tattoos have transcended old stigmas and recent mainstreaming to become proper art. Brooklyn tattoo pro and now fine artist Scott Campbell is on the most recent cover of my favourite magazine, the Berlin biannual 032c, with a portfolio of his tat work and a testimonial from his client Nan Goldin. He’s also collaborated with this little cult label you might know, Louis Vuitton? Meanwhile, Nicola Formichetti‘s Mugler muse is Rico the Skeleton Boy, aka. Rick Genest of Montreal, who earned the moniker by tattooing himself with skull and bones all—yes, all—over. He makes all the coolin’ Lower East Side boys with their Dash Snow–aping Day of the Dead chest tats look like accountants.

And yesterday in London I picked up the new GARAGE, by Dasha Zhukova (the Russian oligarch, art patron, and former EIC of POP). Inside, major art stars ink willing participants with original work: “I will not get any more boring tattoos,” writes John Baldessari, while Damien Hirst has a blue butterfly emblazoned on a girl’s vagina. In ink, that’s really the final word.

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