Well, things change. Like a molting snake, art must evolve as nature does. A true artist must bend, twist and break to create a new form in order to survive in an ever-changing environment. Tattooing is no different. Over the years, tattoo artists have meticulously honed their craft with passion and intention to inscribe breathtaking works of art on the skin.
These days, some would argue that tattooing has lost its magic. Others would argue that it’s still thriving, and probably will for a long time to come. One such person is Pierre Chapelan. After 27 legendary years, he has decided to close the doors of the Montreal-based studio Tattoomania. While this news may sound gloomy, it’s not what it seems. It marks a transformation to bring the best of tattooing to the people who love and support it.
Before turning out the lights for the last time, Pierre asked me if I’d like to do the last tattoo in his store. The last tattoo being on him. Good grief! What an honor. Tattoomania is an institution, a place where many of the world’s great artists have tattooed, whether in residence or as guest artists. It’s a place where I’ve found a group of friends who have always made me feel at home. Great fucking tattoo artists everywhere and Pierre was at the helm. Over the years, we inspired each other and pushed each other to become better artists. He always took the time to teach me the essence and truth of tattooing. It was during this period that the ideas for the new format of Tattoomania and Friends were born. What if the studio abandoned its physical format to become more?
On October 28, 2024, we sat down one last time in the store to tattoo and talk about what’s to come. Stay tuned for the full video interview with Pierre and myself.
Christian Awad
