Skin Art Tattoo

Shaung Tsai has practised tattooing on himself. While other tattoo artists prefer to hone their crafts on oranges and pig skin — both of which are often used as substitutes for human skin — the owner of Skin Art Tattoo wanted to get as close to the real thing as early on as possible. “It takes some time to get used to because human skin is totally different,” says Shaung. “Pig skin’s not moving, right? Human skin moves; it’s alive and it’s permanent.”

However, his reason for wanting to tattoo himself goes deeper than that. “I don’t usually [tattoo myself],” he explains. “A half year before I started the shop, I tattooed my first tattoo on myself because I have to know how it feels and how deep I have to go to, and what the pressure feels like.” Shaung inked a hyper-realist rose on his inner forearm, followed by Bruce Lee on his thigh, both of which confirmed his initial feelings: he was ready to become a professional tattoo artist and open his own shop.