Urban Village Tattoo Studio thrives on promoting Samoan culture

What started out as a corner tattoo studio in a café shop, is now one of the top tattoo parlours in the Pacific.

Urban Village Tattoo Studio owner, Michael Hickey says they are proud of the work they have done over the years.

“It’s been about 15 years now and it all started with a friend who was deported back from America. He is a tattoo artist and I was doing CDs and operating a coffee shop at that time. Back than he was looking for job. And I felt sorry for him and I had space in the shop and we started a tattoo studio and we started here. That’s how it started. It got so busy that we started dropping off the café and focusing more on the tattoos,” Hickey said.

Situated in the city of Apia, the Urban Village Tattoo Studio has played a major role in promoting Samoan’s culture to the rest of the world.

“We got the traditional artist and now a lot more contemporary businesses have opened up. But 90 percent of our work is cultural-related.”

“It’s culturally-based to the Samoan culture. We also have Tongans and Fijians coming in with their own designs that that they want us to do on their body. Which also makes us learn designs of their own cultures,” he said.

The studio is known for doing tattoos for rugby star- Sonny Bill Williams, British singer, Joss Stone, New ealand singer, Stan Walker and some rugby league players.

“With the work we have done to make our business known, we are beginning to get busy. It’s a contemporary studio and we use machines for our work. It’s becoming really busy leading up to the games. July is going to get hectic for us and the other entire tattooist on the Island. The business is going really well,” Hickey said.

One of the studio’s artist, Vincent Pesamino says his love for the art is what has kept him going.

“I loved drawing ever since I was very young. And I got to be a tattoo artist when I went to the States till I back. I am able to share my love for art through my work.”

“For boys who are also talented artists, I advise them to keep doing what they are doing.” He said.

The Urban Village Tattoo Studio is expected to be busy throughout the Pacific Games, which get underway in Samoa next week.

Athletes and supporters from around the Pacific are expected to browse through the studio or even get themselves a tattoo while in Apia.

 

     

Author: 
Josephine Navula