What began with shaky lines from a makeshift machine in 1993 has blossomed into a sophisticated art form, now celebrated on canvas at a groundbreaking Gold Coast exhibition. Veteran tattoo artist Benji Tobin, whose early career saw him etching designs on friends with a modified electric shaver, is now co-curator of 'Made to Suit', an event that masterfully illustrates the profound transformation of the tattoo world.

Tobin, reflecting on his humble beginnings, humorously recalls, "My lines were way off, and I said, 'Mate, this isn't going to turn out the way we thought.' Unfortunately, all my mates I grew up with have got the worst tattoos I've ever done." Today, the industry bears little resemblance to those early days, having moved from a perceived niche subculture to a widely embraced mainstream art form. "It was the bikies, the crims, the naughty boys," Tobin notes, highlighting the shift. "Now you can go and get a coffee and the barista has a face tattoo."

A Canvas for Community and Creativity

Five years ago, Tobin initiated 'Made to Suit' with the vision of uniting what he describes as a sometimes "cliquey" tattoo community. The exhibition aims to spotlight the vast diversity of styles and techniques within the art form, breaking down traditional barriers. "What I tattoo isn't what I get — what I like and what I get are two different things," Tobin explains, himself covered in black and grey work despite specialising in colour.

A unique aspect of 'Made to Suit' is its format: more than 30 full-body tattoos are meticulously recreated on canvas, offering a static yet powerful display of dynamic skin art. Co-curator Dan Johnston contributed his own deeply personal canvas this year, demonstrating how tattoos can serve as profound reflections of an artist's life journey.

Stories Etched in Ink

Johnston's piece for the exhibition is a poignant narrative, conceived after his wife received a brain cancer diagnosis. His artwork features 13 samurai-inspired crabs ascending a body, symbolising unity in the fight against a representation of cancer. "I tried to make it a little bit about a journey that's happening in my life," Johnston shares. "It was personal and I thought, 'I have to nail this and get it out.'" This intimate creation underscores the therapeutic and expressive potential of tattoo art.

Fellow artist Stephanie King, with 14 years in the industry, has witnessed countless trends emerge and fade. "There's trends at the moment, like the fine lines, sticker ones — I feel like that's boomed," she observes. King, renowned for her hyper-realistic black and white tattoos, deliberately diversified her style for 'Made to Suit', showcasing her versatility. She also points to a significant cultural shift within tattoo studios. "You used to walk into a shop and you picked a design off the wall. The people doing the tattoos were probably pretty scary and fitted into a stereotype," King recounts. "It's changed quite a bit, there's a lot more women in the industry now."

The Global Pursuit of Unique Artistry

The global reach of the industry is exemplified by Tony Nguyen, a New York lawyer who discovered King's work online. Inspired by her art, Nguyen embarked on an international journey to her Gold Coast studio for his first tattoo – a full bodysuit. "I was really picky about who my artist was going to be," he explains. "When I first dipped my toe into it, it was a bottomless pit of styles, regions and histories — I got lost in it."

Nguyen found King's artistic style particularly compelling, describing it as "very fluid, there was something not strict, or an airy feel about it." Twelve days of tattooing have completed his torso, with his arms and legs still planned. For Nguyen, the experience is transformative: "It makes me feel at ease. It makes me feel the way I feel inside but it's on my skin and I can see it."

Tobin concludes that while reasons for getting tattooed vary, an increasing number of clients are actively seeking out artists for their distinctive styles and giving greater consideration to how individual pieces harmonise into a larger narrative. "They don't just go, 'Give me this, give me that' and [I] think, 'Shit, what am I going to do with all this?'" he states. "They'll come in and go, 'Hey, I like your work, I want to get a sleeve', and that will extend into something bigger."

King echoes this sentiment, affirming the newfound creative freedom for tattoo artists. "You go for a walk and you see things in nature that inspire you … I love going to galleries and museums," she says, encapsulating the pervasive influence of art in all its forms. "People see it as art. It's a way to tell a story."