BY SIMONE J. SMITH
Everyone likes to have choices in the things they do, but unfortunately, parents sometimes think they need to do all the planning in their child’s life. They forget that children need choices, and although there are some children who will just go along with whatever an adult tells them to do, others will become resentful, because they aren’t given the chance to choose: partners, careers, or lifestyles for themselves.
Our business feature this week speaks lovingly about his mother who allowed him to make decisions in his life. She knew that giving her son a choice would help him feel empowered, and in more control over what he did. She loosened her ideals, and allowed her son to grow up. She knew that if she allowed him to make choices, and they had a positive effect on his life, this would be a skill that he would use for the rest of his life. Thankfully, when she allowed him to make a career choice that is not acceptable in their culture, she gave birth to a young creative who would stop at nothing to make her proud.
The tattoo is no longer quite the symbol of rebellion and subculture it once was. Tattoos are most interesting to the art world because of their “outsider status.” They can be compared to “self-taught art, prison art, and art of the insane.”
Michael Kimmelman (The New York Times Art Critic, 1995)
The world of tattoo artistry has evolved over the last 20 years. There was a time that we associated tattoo parlours with seedy, dark alley pit stops. Jump to the year 2022, and popular tattoo artists such as Nikko Hurtado have millions of Instagram followers. The Bureau of Labour Statistics estimated that the need for tattoo artists was going to grow by 12% between 2008 and 2018. The tattoo industry is becoming more popular. According to 2011 Pew Research Centre data, 36% of those in the 18 to 25-year-old bracket have a tattoo.
This genre of artistry cannot be outsourced. A tattoo artist uses ink to permanently change the pigment of the outer layer of a customer’s skin. The reason for getting a tattoo is different for each person, but a common frame of thought is that it is a form of creative expression. People choose tattoos that hold symbolic value, and being part of that process is one of the joys that come with this artistic expression.
“Art washes away from the soul the dust from everyday life.”
Picasso
His passion for visual arts began far before his conception. My natural ability for craft was forged via his mother, a seasoned painter and master of embroidery. It did not take long for Harsimran Gill (aka. ACE) to inherit her creative abilities that were displayed to him as a child.
“I always was into arts, probably because my mom was an art teacher. I took art animation, but it didn’t click for me, plus, I am extraverted and I like to socialize, and being in animation would take me away from being my social self. One thing that I have always wanted is for people to know me; in animation, no one would know me.”
Via trial and error with different art forms, ACE niched down into illustration. This designation was confirmed upon receiving his first tattoo. Each stroke of the needle solidified his destiny.
“I remember my first tattoo, done by Immortal Tattoos in India. After that first tattoo, the artist became my mentor. I realized that tattooing was going to be my thing. As an artist, you leave a permanent mark that people will remember you for. I wanted people to know me in the industry. People will remember me regardless if the experience was good or bad.
Immortalizing my work on the body of clients liberates me and instills a lifelong relationship that translates into something bigger than just tattoos. These pieces act as a museum with no boundaries, traveling the world with their hosts. Through a tale of a craft being passed on from generations, we see these scriptures travel from Chandigarh (INDIA) to Brampton (CANADA), to the rest of the world.”
ACE was born in India, Punjab, and moved to Canada in 2016. He knew at that point that he wanted to be a tattoo artist, but there was one hiccup, mom!
“When I realized that I wanted to be a tattoo artist. My mom said ‘No!’ I asked my mom why? She didn’t really have an excuse. I kept bothering my mom everyday about this decision that I was making in my life, and she talked with her friends. Of course, her friends advised her to stop me from making this decision.
I decided that I would try a different approach with my mom; instead of changing her mind, I worked on changing her mind-set. I told my mom about my mentor. I showed my mom what my mentor had accomplished: no drugs, educated, and successful.
Slowly, she came around, but she made me promise that I wouldn’t get a tattoo. When I started getting them, I only had one tattoo. This was difficult because I saw artwork that I liked all the time. Eventually I gave into the art and I broke my promise. I had to hide them at first so no one could see. One day, she saw a peek of a tattoo, so I just ended up showing her. Naturally it upset her, but mom saw my success and the people who I was working with: doctors, lawyers, and engineers. She saw that I was different.”
ACE’s goal is to educate people. For him, it is not just about the money, it is about the art first.
“Don’t chase money,” ACE reminded me. “Focus on the art, and the money will come.
Drawn from the delicate balance between the universe and emotions, I find inspiration. Paying homage to heritage key, and so my style honours my Indian roots. I am proud to continue a fulfilling career that endeavours deeper into the creative universe.”
