Skin Stories

Tony Redropp

Outdoor exhibition
Farmers Co- Op, lane way wall, Queens Street, Napier

15 - 25 September 2023

Part of FotoFest Hawkes Bay

Skin Stories

People, their tattoos, and their stories.

Tattoos have been an art form that I have been interested in, but my interest has been deeper. What are the stories of the people that are tattooed? Why did they get tattooed?

Is there a particular tattoo with meaning, with its own story?

I wanted to show a series of portraits with the same visual flow, so the series would be visually strong.

I knew that the individual tattoos would give each portrait their own strength, but to have them write their own story, of their journey, would give each portrait, and the series, added strength.

I knew a couple of people who were tattooed, but an opening art exhibition at a friends gallery, The Swamp, introduced me to a new community of tattooed artists, this combined with word of mouth, friends of friends, it all started a flow.

What started as photographing people I was meeting for the first time, has now involved photographing new friends, and an introduction into a new community.

I want people to look past the person tattooed, and look further into who the person is, and what is their story.

The series is ongoing, and has a journey ahead, much like the people who have been photographed.

Tony Redropp

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