More and more people in Taiwan are getting tattoos. This art form has shifted from underground symbols of rebellion and gang membership to a widely-accepted form of personal expression and art, embraced by people from all walks of life.
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00:00In a world of ink and needles, Hori Fu, a renowned tattoo artist here in Taiwan, has been leaving his mark for well over four decades.
00:21Fu is a living legend in the tattoo community, with a legacy etched into the skin of thousands of people.
00:28He began his tattooing career at the age of 16, when there are not many resources or mentors in the country.
00:48When Fu was first getting started, tattoos were not widely accepted by Taiwanese society.
00:53This form of art was traditionally linked with rebellious behavior or brotherhoods and gangs, making it extra difficult for tattoo artists like Fu to run a business.
01:03Fu says gang members in Taiwan usually get tattoos related to their religious beliefs, which many call Taiwanese tattoo style.
01:09Taiwanese tattoo style.
01:11Taiwanese tattoo style.
01:12Taiwanese tattoo.
01:13Fu says gang members in Taiwan usually get tattoos related to their religious beliefs, which many call Taiwanese tattoo style.
01:18Taiwanese tattoo style.
01:24Fu says gang members in Taiwan usually get tattoos related to their religious beliefs, which many call Taiwanese tattoo style.
01:31But things have changed a lot since those days. Now it's not just gang members getting tattoos, it's people from all walks of life. From office workers to doctors to artists,
01:46and from young people to seniors, making tattoos a popular art form.
02:05Taiwanese tattoo.
02:06It's been a long time for a long time for a long time.
02:10And we also have to add to our media itself.
02:15We also have a lot of support for this part.
02:19But compared to the past,
02:22just as if you were holding hands or holding hands,
02:26everyone thought it was a brother.
02:28But now I can see it all over there.
02:36Tattoos have gotten so big that there are annual exhibitions which draw thousands of tattoo
02:43enthusiasts, each with their own reasons for getting ate.
02:47It's a kind of thing.
02:49I just wanted to go to eat it.
02:52I just didn't stop it.
02:55This is Taiwan's god name.
02:57I think it's very important to me.
03:02Tattoo styles have also become more diverse, including Japanese styles, lettering, watercolour and illustrative tattoos.
03:23With the growing popularity of skin art, the Taiwan Tattoo Union says there are around 6,000 tattoo artists in the country.
03:41No longer an art form that has to be hidden or avoided.
03:45Artists like Horifu can run their businesses openly and proudly promote their work.
03:50Patrick Chen and Tanichi for Taiwan Plus.