Ana Ruiz Aguirre

Tattoo Studio on 124th - I, 2021, Tattoo Studio on 124th - II, 2021

Archival pigment print, 5 x 5 inches

Only a handful of images of tattoo studios can be found in local Edmonton archives. This significant gap in the historical record illustrates the lack of interest in this artistic and caring practice that has characterized local hegemonic groups, and obscures the rich history of tattooing in the city. In an effort to address this gap, I photograph exteriors of tattoo studios operating in Edmonton as part of my ongoing multidisciplinary project, YEG, Inked. I take the photographs with a Diana camera and 120mm film. The Diana is a contemporary version (2007) of the classic 1960s camera, made completely of plastic (including the lens) and prone to leaks of light and soft-focused images; the 120mm film allows for the creation of square images - less immediate, analogue versions of an Instagram tile. My goal with this series is to create a local historical memory of tattoo studios as meaningful, artistic and caring spaces, as lieux de mémoire.