On this episode of Beneath the Skin we cover the life of influential Hong Kong tattooist Pinky Yun.   Fundraiser for Finn   If you want to follow us online for more updates CLICK HERE   Production by Thomas O'Mahony Artwork by Joe Painter (jcp_art) Intro Music by Dan McKenna   If you would like to get in touch you can email the show on [email protected]

On this episode of Beneath the Skin we talk about the weird 2000s trend of tattoo advertising.  If you want to follow us online for more updates CLICK HERE Production by Thomas O'Mahony Artwork by Joe Painter (jcp_art) Intro Music by Dan McKenna If you would like to get in touch you can email the show on [email protected]                  

Hear the rest of this episode exclusively on Patreon  On this episode of Beneath the Skin we start our new series on the the different artists and movements that have influenced modern tattooing.  Tattooing as a medium owes a lot to other forms. From painting to sculpture, from art high low and in between, its all influenced tattooing in some form We'll be covering artists like Ralph Bakshi and HR. Giger, and movements like expressionism, post modernism and others. On this first episode we're covering the history of the Pin Up If you want to follow us online for more updates CLICK HERE Production by Thomas O'Mahony Artwork by Joe Painter (jcp_art) Intro Music by Dan McKenna If you would like to get in touch you can email the show on [email protected]

On this episode of Beneath the Skin we give a brief intro into the history of tattooing in China  If you want to follow us online for more updates CLICK HERE Production by Thomas O'Mahony Artwork by Joe Painter (jcp_art) Intro Music by Dan McKenna If you would like to get in touch you can email the show on [email protected]

Hear the rest of this episode exclusively on Patreon  On this episode of Beneath the Skin we talk to Body Art archivist, documentarian, and contextualizer, Shawn Porter. Many of you will know Shawn from his archive projects Occult Vibrations and Sacred Debris where Shawn collects and preserves artefacts from body modifications, tattooing and more. You may also know Shawn from his time as one of the founders of Body Modification E-Zine (or BME for short).  We cover a lot in this episode, like Shawn's friendship with Jack Yount, the early body mod scene, and Shawn's work preserving the history of all things weird and wonderful.   Follow Shawn Here  If you want to follow us online for more updates CLICK HERE Production by Thomas O'Mahony Artwork by Joe Painter (jcp_art) Intro Music by Dan McKenna If you would like to get in touch you can email the show on [email protected]

New Merch available here   Just a quick note for anyone who doesn't follow us on social media, we now have some cool new merch available for preorder which you can check out at the link above   BONUS EPISODES + SUPPORT THE SHOW   If you want to follow us online for more updates CLICK HERE   Production by Thomas O'Mahony   Artwork by Joe Painter (jcp_art) Intro Music by Dan McKenna   If you would like to get in touch you can email the show on [email protected]

Hear the rest of this episode exclusively on Patreon  On this episode of Beneath the Skin we talk about the life of early queer icon Joe Castairs New Merch available here If you want to follow us online for more updates CLICK HERE Production by Thomas O'Mahony Artwork by Joe Painter (jcp_art) Intro Music by Dan McKenna If you would like to get in touch you can email the show on [email protected]                  

On this episode of Beneath the Skin Matt talks about how a simple Hokusai design of a frog travelled all around the world and became one of the first influential flash designs, transcending tattooing and coming to adorn everything from fine china to textiles.   New Merch available here   BONUS EPISODES + SUPPORT THE SHOW   If you want to follow us online for more updates CLICK HERE   Production by Thomas O'Mahony   Artwork by Joe Painter (jcp_art) Intro Music by Dan McKenna   If you would like to get in touch you can email the show on [email protected]

On this episode of Beneath the Skin we spoke to Egyptologist Dr. Anne Austin about her work discovering tattooed bodies in the Egypt and debunking what we previously thought about tattooing in the region.  New Merch available here Follow Anne   Read Anne's work  If you want to follow us online for more updates CLICK HERE Production by Thomas O'Mahony Artwork by Joe Painter (jcp_art) Intro Music by Dan McKenna If you would like to get in touch you can email the show on [email protected]

On this episode of Beneath the Skin we speak to Damon Murray and Mark Vincent about the Russian Criminal Tattoo encyclopaedias and their new book The Russian Criminal Tattoo Archive  New Merch available here Follow Fuel Design  If you want to follow us online for more updates CLICK HERE Production by Thomas O'Mahony Artwork by Joe Painter (jcp_art) Intro Music by Dan McKenna If you would like to get in touch you can email the show on [email protected]

This is a recording of Adam's presentation from the recent Inked Up Marked Out Conference on the interdisciplinary study of tattooing. Adam is a tattooist currently working in Manchester at Flesh Tattoo, and independent researcher. He completed his practice-based PhD in design in 2021 at The University of Sunderland in partnership with Triplesix Studios, where he began his tattoo apprenticeship in May 2017. This was the world's first to utilise tattoo practice as a research methodology and was described by external examiners (including Matt!) as "the most in-depth, detailed and considered first-person account of tattoo practice in the academic literature". In this talk Adam draws upon six autoethnographic written accounts of encounters he had as a tattooist between 2018 and 2020, themed around his understanding of the tattooists occupational role. In addition to arguing the role of the practitioner being the provision of tattooing as a creative medium, he argues that the non-material facet of the tattooists role is the provision of service, and offer a framework for how that may be understood and the discipline specific nuances that are entailed. Through this, he sought to demonstrate that there is more to tattooing than just 'tattooing', so that future academic inquiry can be framed and conducted in a more empathetic and meaningful way. Follow Adam on Instagram If you want to follow us online for more updates CLICK HERE Production by Thomas O'Mahony Artwork by Joe Painter (jcp_art) Intro Music by Dan McKenna If you would like to get in touch you can email the show on [email protected]

On this episode of Beneath the Skin we spoke to Master Piercer, Researcher, and Historian Paul King about the life piercing and tattoo collector, enthusiast, and so much more, Rudi Inhelder. During his life Rudi was a living document of the growth of tattooing over the 20th century and is the nexus through which so much mid century and later tattoo history flowed.  This is Part 1 of a 2 part series on the life of Rudi Inhelder so please stay tuned to hear the rest.  New Merch available here Follow Paul  If you want to follow us online for more updates CLICK HERE Production by Thomas O'Mahony Artwork by Joe Painter (jcp_art) Intro Music by Dan McKenna If you would like to get in touch you can email the show on [email protected]

On this episode of Beneath the Skin we spoke to author, journalist, and ocaasional sideshow performer Kim Kelly about the history of Sideshow performers, the labour relations of the sideshow industry, and her personal experience as a so called "freak"  Buy Kim's book 'Fight Like Hell: The Untold History of American Labour'   Follow Kim  New Merch available here If you want to follow us online for more updates CLICK HERE Production by Thomas O'Mahony Artwork by Joe Painter (jcp_art) Intro Music by Dan McKenna If you would like to get in touch you can email the show on [email protected]

Hear the rest of this episode exclusively on Patreon  New Merch available here On this episode of Beneath the Skin we are delighted to share a conversation Matt had with the one and only, the legendary tattooist, Mr. Don Ed Hardy.  The audio on this one isn't the best due to the technical limits at the time, but the conversation is a delight so we've included a transcript of the hour long interview below for anyone who is keen to dig into it more.  If you want to follow us online for more updates CLICK HERE Production by Thomas O'Mahony Artwork by Joe Painter (jcp_art) Intro Music by Dan McKenna If you would like to get in touch you can email the show on [email protected]

On this episode of Beneath the Skin Matt talks about his journey to uncover what happened to early 20th century tattooed runaway Madeline Altman. If you want to follow us online for more updates CLICK HERE Production by Thomas O'Mahony Artwork by Joe Painter (jcp_art) Intro Music by Dan McKenna If you would like to get in touch you can email the show on [email protected]

Since the Nicholas Rossi/Arthur Knight story is back in the news we decided to unlock this episode so people know about one of the many insane details of the case.  On this episode of Beneath the Skin we discuss the crossover between tattooing and the law.  We cover the current Nicholas Rossi/Arthur Knight case, the famous Tichborne trial, the FBI's incomprehensible tattoo database, and lots more.  If you want to follow us online for more updates CLICK HERE Production by Thomas O'Mahony Artwork by Joe Painter (jcp_art) Intro Music by Dan McKenna If you would like to get in touch you can email the show on [email protected]              

Hear the rest of this episode exclusively on Patreon  On this episode of Beneath the Skin we spoke to Egyptologist Dr. Anne Austin about her work discovering tattooed bodies in the Egypt and debunking what we previously thought about tattooing in the region.  Follow Anne   Read Anne's work  If you want to follow us online for more updates CLICK HERE Production by Thomas O'Mahony Artwork by Joe Painter (jcp_art) Intro Music by Dan McKenna If you would like to get in touch you can email the show on [email protected]                  

On this episode of Beneath the Skin we spoke with PhD researcher Julia Amigo about the history of tattooing in Spain, and in particular her research on the unique and important role women played in the growth of tattooing in the Post-Franco era.  Follow Julia  If you want to follow us online for more updates CLICK HERE Production by Thomas O'Mahony Artwork by Joe Painter (jcp_art) Intro Music by Dan McKenna If you would like to get in touch you can email the show on [email protected]

Hear the rest of this episode exclusively on Patreon  On this episode of Beneath the Skin for Easter we talk about the history of pilgrim tattooing in the Holy Land and the history of Coptic tattooing. If you want to follow us online for more updates CLICK HERE Production by Thomas O'Mahony Artwork by Joe Painter (jcp_art) Intro Music by Dan McKenna If you would like to get in touch you can email the show on [email protected]

On this episode of Beneath the Skin, we remember the life and career of legendary tattooist, collector, and quote machine, Lyle Tuttle. We speak to Danielle Boyarde about what it was like knowing Lyle and their friendship, Lyle's world class collection of tattoo ephemera and memorabilia, and how Lyle's legacy is helping uncover the tattoo secrets of the 20th century.  New Merch available here Check out: The Tattoo Art of Mystery Legend R. Johnson from the Lyle Tuttle collection  If you want to follow us online for more updates CLICK HERE Production by Thomas O'Mahony Artwork by Joe Painter (jcp_art) Intro Music by Dan McKenna If you would like to get in touch you can email the show on [email protected]

Hear the rest of this episode exclusively on Patreon    On this episode of Beneath the Skin we talk about the ongoing Ephemeral Tattoo debacle, the company who claims to have developed the worlds first (?) ink that will have your tattoos disappear in a little over a year   If you want to follow us online for more updates CLICK HERE   Production by Thomas O'Mahony Artwork by Joe Painter (jcp_art) Intro Music by Dan McKenna If you would like to get in touch you can email the show on [email protected]

  On this episode of Beneath the Skin we conclude our series on the tattoo history of Japan In this final part we discuss Matt looking like Joel Madden, Tom's new shoes, and the birth of the Yakuza and the role they played in keeping Japanese tattooing alive during the 20th century.  A special thank you to everyone who joined us for this series and if there's anything you'd like to hear us cover in future make sure to let us know on our social media   BONUS EPISODES + SUPPORT THE SHOW Follow us on Instagram   Production by Thomas O'Mahony   Artwork by Joe Painter (jcp_art) Intro Music by Dan McKenna If you would like to get in touch you can email the show on [email protected]

Hear the rest of this episode exclusively on Patreon  On this episode of Beneath the Skin Matt takes the reins and talks at length about the history of the legal status of tattooing in Japan. If you want to follow us online for more updates CLICK HERE Production by Thomas O'Mahony Artwork by Joe Painter (jcp_art) Intro Music by Dan McKenna If you would like to get in touch you can email the show on [email protected]

On this episode of Beneath the Skin we spoke to tattoo journalist and writer Pascal Bagot about the life of crime novelist, photographer, and tattoo enthusiast Akimitsu Takagi and his seminal 1948 novel The Tattoo Murder, as well as Pascals own book on Mr. Takagi's life and his photography. Follow Pascal  Buy 'The Tattoo Writer  If you want to follow us online for more updates CLICK HERE Production by Thomas O'Mahony Artwork by Joe Painter (jcp_art) Intro Music by Dan McKenna If you would like to get in touch you can email the show on [email protected]                  

On this episode of Beneath the Skin we're continuing our series on the tattoo history of Japan   In this part we discuss Japan's transition from the Edo Period and the end of the Tokugawa Shogunate, into the Meiji Restoration and the beginning of the 20th Century.   BONUS EPISODES + SUPPORT THE SHOW Follow us on Instagram   Production by Thomas O'Mahony   Artwork by Joe Painter (jcp_art) Intro Music by Dan McKenna If you would like to get in touch you can email the show on [email protected]

Hey everyone, here is another interview we conducted on our trip to Wales with Fflur Morse who is the Senior Curator for Cultural Life at the National Museum of Wales   If you want to follow us online for more updates CLICK HERE   Production by Thomas O'Mahony Artwork by Joe Painter (jcp_art) Intro Music by Dan McKenna   If you would like to get in touch you can email the show on [email protected]

Hear the rest of this episode exclusively on Patreon  On this episode of Beneath the Skin, we're talking Ukiyo-e prints, how to buy the perfect cabbage, and whether or not Hokusai had a sick left hook.   Follow Benoît Read Benoît's research   If you want to follow us online for more updates CLICK HERE   Production by Thomas O'Mahony Artwork by Joe Painter (jcp_art) Intro Music by Dan McKenna If you would like to get in touch you can email the show on [email protected]

Here's a short conversation Matt had Senior Archive and Photographic Conservator Lisa Childs who has been responsible for the painstaking conservation and restoration of the Jessie Knight collection that we recently saw on our trip to Wales.  BONUS EPISODES + SUPPORT THE SHOW Follow Us Production by Thomas O'Mahony Artwork by Joe Painter (jcp_art) Intro Music by Dan McKenna If you would like to get in touch you can email the show on [email protected]

On this episode of Beneath the Skin we're continuing our series on the tattoo history of Japan In this part we discuss how Japanese culture during the Edo period and prior influenced the origins of contemporary Traditional Japanese tattooing as we know it today. BONUS EPISODES + SUPPORT THE SHOW Follow Us Production by Thomas O'Mahony Artwork by Joe Painter (jcp_art) Intro Music by Dan McKenna If you would like to get in touch you can email the show on [email protected]                  

Hear the rest of this episode exclusively on Patreon    On this episode of Beneath the Skin, after having unprecedented access to the as yet unreleased collection of the late tattooist Jessie Knight in Wales, we talk about her legend, her legacy, and why so many people don't know her name.   Follow Us   Production by Thomas O'Mahony Artwork by Joe Painter (jcp_art) Intro Music by Dan McKenna   If you would like to get in touch you can email the show on [email protected]

On this episode of Beneath the Skin we're starting off our journey in the East with the first instalment of our 3 part series on the history of Japan and Japanese tattooing. In this first episode we learn about the indigenous Ainu people of Japan, native to Hokkaido, who's unique tattoo tradition has been almost wiped out from contemporary Japanese society.  BONUS EPISODES + SUPPORT THE SHOW Follow Us Production by Thomas O'Mahony Artwork by Joe Painter (jcp_art) Intro Music by Dan McKenna If you would like to get in touch you can email the show on [email protected]

Hear the rest of this episode exclusively on Patreon  On this episode of Beneath the Skin, we remember the life and career of legendary tattooist, collector, and quote machine, Lyle Tuttle. We speak to Danielle Boyarde about what it was like knowing Lyle and their friendship, Lyle's world class collection of tattoo ephemera and memorabilia, and how Lyle's legacy is helping uncover the tattoo secrets of the 20th century.  Check out: The Tattoo Art of Mystery Legend R. Johnson from the Lyle Tuttle collection  If you want to follow us online for more updates CLICK HERE Production by Thomas O'Mahony Artwork by Joe Painter (jcp_art) Intro Music by Dan McKenna If you would like to get in touch you can email the show on [email protected]

On this episode of Beneath the Skin, we're talking to shop owners about the reality of owning a tattoo studio in 2023. Clients, Instagram, and the price of toilet paper, this episode has everything you always wanted to know.  We're joined again by fan favourite Peter Oakmund Madsen (Northern Black, Whitley Bay, UK), and Benny the Butcher (Meatshop Tattoo, Barcelona, Spain), and Sylvain Liengme (Add Ink Tattoo, Geneva, Switzerland) BONUS EPISODES + SUPPORT THE SHOW  If you want to follow us online for more updates CLICK HERE Production by Thomas O'Mahony Artwork by Joe Painter (jcp_art) Intro Music by Dan McKenna If you would like to get in touch you can email the show on [email protected]

Hear the rest of this episode exclusively on Patreon  On this episode of Beneath the Skin its Tom's turn to solo the show and he's bringing the first episode of our new series American Freakshow, a deep dive into the history and cultural legacy of the freaks and freak shows of the 19th and 20th century. Follow Us Production by Thomas O'Mahony Artwork by Joe Painter (jcp_art) Intro Music by Dan McKenna If you would like to get in touch you can email the show on [email protected]

On this episode of Beneath the Skin we speak to Tennessee  based Archaeologist Aaron Deter Wolf about his research into prehistoric tattooing in the Americas, and how still to this day we're discovering that tattooing is going further back in time than previously thought.  BONUS EPISODES + SUPPORT THE SHOW If you want to follow us online for more updates CLICK HERE Production by Thomas O'Mahony Artwork by Joe Painter (jcp_art) Intro Music by Dan McKenna If you would like to get in touch you can email the show on [email protected]

Just a quick message from Tom and Matt to say thank you for all your support this year and to wish you a very happy Christmas.   BONUS EPISODES + SUPPORT THE SHOW   Follow Us   Production by Thomas O'Mahony Artwork by Joe Painter (jcp_art) Intro Music by Dan McKenna If you would like to get in touch you can email the show on [email protected]

On this episode of Beneath the Skin we're discussing the upcoming EU Ink ban and the history of tattoo pigments BONUS EPISODES + SUPPORT THE SHOW If you want to follow us online for more updates CLICK HERE Production by Thomas O'Mahony Artwork by Joe Painter (jcp_art) Intro Music by Dan McKenna If you would like to get in touch you can email the show on [email protected]

Hear the rest of this episode exclusively on Patreon  On this episode of Beneath the Skin, we're joined by Trashfuture's own Expert of Guys Milo Edwards to talk about lads who look like a Topman window display, seeing a West Ham back piece in the most unlikely of places, and so much more. You can find Milo here  Follow Us Production by Thomas O'Mahony Artwork by Joe Painter (jcp_art) Intro Music by Dan McKenna If you would like to get in touch you can email the show on [email protected]

On this episode of Beneath the Skin, we speak to tattooist Peter Oakmund Madsen about his work and how he is creating tattoos that close the gap between the real art history of the viking age and our modern evidence of their lack tattoos.  Peter specialises in creating large freehand pieces that takes inspiration from the master Viking artisans and craftspeople of the golden age and combines it with everything mythological and mystical to create tattoos that are truly unique not only to the wearer but in and of themselves as art pieces.  If you would like to see more of Peter's work you can find him on: Instagram  TikTok  Website  BONUS EPISODES + SUPPORT THE SHOW If you want to follow us online for more updates CLICK HERE Production by Thomas O'Mahony Artwork by Joe Painter (jcp_art) Intro Music by Dan McKenna If you would like to get in touch you can email the show on [email protected]

On this episode of Beneath the Skin, we discuss one of tattooing last taboos, the tattooing of children.  BONUS EPISODES + SUPPORT THE SHOW The tattooing of people under 18 years of age has a long history both from a cultural and functional perspective and has only relatively recently become illegal, but the youth have always had an obsession with ink. From school yard compass tattoos, to rogue tattooers, lets learn about tattooing's final frontier, and the internal youthful obsession with tattoos.  Content Warning: from 42:00 to approx 50:00 we discuss the West Hampstead case which involves accusations of the abuse of children. If you want to follow us online for more updates CLICK HERE Production by Thomas O'Mahony Artwork by Joe Painter (jcp_art) Intro Music by Dan McKenna If you would like to get in touch you can email the show on [email protected]

Hear the rest of this episode exclusively on Patreon  On this episode of Beneath the Skin we discuss the crossover between tattooing and the law.  We cover the current Nicholas Rossi/Arthur Knight case, the famous Tichborne trial, the FBI's incomprehensible tattoo database, and lots more.  BONUS EPISODES + SUPPORT THE SHOW If you want to follow us online for more updates CLICK HERE Production by Thomas O'Mahony Artwork by Joe Painter (jcp_art) Intro Music by Dan McKenna If you would like to get in touch you can email the show on [email protected]                

On this episode of Beneath the Skin, Matt reads a chapter from his new book Painted People about how Argentinean beef, fake Icelandic articles, and Pablo Picasso all intersected to encapsulate Cold War politics and the war between the East and West BONUS EPISODES + SUPPORT THE SHOW If you want to follow us online for more updates CLICK HERE Production by Thomas O'Mahony Artwork by Joe Painter (jcp_art) Intro Music by Dan McKenna If you would like to get in touch you can email the show on [email protected]

Hear the rest of this episode exclusively on Patreon  On this episode of Beneath the Skin, we've let Matt loose for a solo episode to talk about his journey to uncover more information about his grandmothers tattoo and how it led him to learn so much about the supply of early tattoo equipment through the department store Gamages  BONUS EPISODES + SUPPORT THE SHOW If you want to follow us online for more updates CLICK HERE Production by Thomas O'Mahony Artwork by Joe Painter (jcp_art) Intro Music by Dan McKenna If you would like to get in touch you can email the show on [email protected]

On this episode of Beneath the Skin we finish our watch along series of the new season of Ink Master.  SPOILER WARNING for those who haven't watched it yet. BONUS EPISODES + SUPPORT THE SHOW If you want to follow us online for more updates CLICK HERE Get 15% off Saniderm tattoo products with code BENEATHSKIN  Production by Thomas O'Mahony Artwork by Joe Painter (jcp_art) Intro Music by Dan McKenna If you would like to get in touch you can email the show on [email protected]

The Medieval period is one of the few spaces in history where evidence of tattooing is scarce, but on this episode of Beneath the Skin we are joined by the internet's favourite Medieval historian Dr. Eleanor Janega to help us unpack the inked history of early Christendom.  Eleanor teaches at the LSE and she specialises in sexuality, apocalypticism, propaganda, and the urban experience. You can pre-order Eleanors upcoming book The Once and Future Sex, which is an exploration of medieval thinking on women’s beauty, sexuality, and behavior here  BONUS EPISODES + SUPPORT THE SHOW If you want to follow us online for more updates CLICK HERE Production by Thomas O'Mahony Artwork by Joe Painter (jcp_art) Intro Music by Dan McKenna If you would like to get in touch you can email the show on [email protected]

On this episode of Beneath the Skin we continue our watch along series of the new season of Ink Master. We cover episode 8 heavy SPOILER WARNING for those who haven't watched it yet. BONUS EPISODES + SUPPORT THE SHOW If you want to follow us online for more updates CLICK HERE Get 15% off Saniderm tattoo products with code BENEATHSKIN  Production by Thomas O'Mahony Artwork by Joe Painter (jcp_art) Intro Music by Dan McKenna If you would like to get in touch you can email the show on [email protected]                

Hear the rest of this episode exclusively on Patreon  On this episode of Beneath the Skin, we discuss tattoos   on the Far Right and the complex history of symbols and meaning in tattooing. BONUS EPISODES + SUPPORT THE SHOW If you want to follow us online for more updates CLICK HERE Production by Thomas O'Mahony Artwork by Joe Painter (jcp_art) Intro Music by Dan McKenna If you would like to get in touch you can email the show on [email protected]

On this episode of Beneath the Skin, we have a very special Halloween show for you all.  Matt has 5 spooky tattoo horror stories for you. Some are fiction and some are allegedly true.  We hope you enjoy it as much as we enjoyed writing it. BONUS EPISODES + SUPPORT THE SHOW If you want to follow us online for more updates CLICK HERE Production by Thomas O'Mahony Artwork by Joe Painter (jcp_art) Intro Music by Dan McKenna If you would like to get in touch you can email the show on [email protected]