Spoil yourself – or someone else – from the Sunset shop

We have good news and great news. The good news is Ross and Rachel DID end up together on Friends, and the great news is we’re now selling some kick-ass merch through our website.

We’ve got some really sweet prints for you to frame, or unique shirts and hoodies to wear and let everyone know you’re cooler than they are. If you’re buying for someone else and are not sure what to get, then grab a Sunset Gift Certificate, redeemable on the merchandise or on a tattoo!

Check the shop out here and spoil yourself with some Sunset designs. They’re the next best thing to having a tattoo!

Astrological tattoo ideas – Aquarius, Pisces and Aries

Everyone has a star sign, and if you believe in astrology, then getting something that represents your sign is a nice personal and unique tattoo idea. We’re going through the calendar 3 signs at a time, starting with January and working our way through the year. So let’s start with…

Aquarius

Anyone born between January 21 and February 19 is an Aquarius, the zodiac symbolized by the water bearer or an urn overflowing with water. People born under this sign are considered to be sociable but are known for sticking to their rules and values. Aquarius tattoos can range from the small symbol of 2 wavy lines through to huge pieces with ornate water bearers pouring urns out.

Pisces

People born between February 20- March 20 are born under Pisces Zodiac sign, and they are generally considered to be caring and intuitive, although sometimes often introvert and shy. The symbol consists of two fish swimming in opposite directions tied to each other, representing the duality of the people born of this zodiac sign. The two fish fit well with another tattoo favourite – the carp (or koi). Pisceans are known to be very artsy and creative and that is why a tattoo is something that they might love especially it is their own zodiac sign.

Aries

Aries fall between March 21st and April 19th, and people born under this sign are quite independent, positive and are often very generous and kind. With the sign of the ram, there are many really cool tattoo ideas out there!

The most painful places on your body to get a tattoo

Yes, we know, pain is subjective – but your body isn’t.

Your body has certain areas which are more susceptible to pain than others, and there’s a consensus about which parts are more painful to tattoo.

If you’re the squeamish type and you want to get a tattoo, then maybe you should avoid areas like…

The wrist

Probably the most painful area if you ask enough people. The skin is very close to the bone, and there is very little to no fat or muscle there to provide a cushion. Add to that it’s a sensitive area to begin with, with lots of nerve endings, and you have the perfect ingredients for a painful tattoo!

The ribcage

Again, like the wrist, the ribcage doesn’t have much muscle or fat to protect it, so people tend to feel the needle a lot more here. There’s also a physiological effect going on; your ribcage protects all your vital organs, and so is naturally sensitive. Think about being tickled – it’s a feeling like no other, and it’s because your body wants you to protect that area more than anywhere else.

The head

Your head is basically just your skull with a bit of skin stretched over it, so if you’re getting a tattoo there, you can expect it to hurt. The reason the head is so painful is because it’s nerve central. There are 12 pairs of cranial nerves that connect the brain with the head, neck and body. Your eyes, ears, nose, and taste buds all rely on this collection of nerves to transmit sensory details about what you're smelling, tasting, hearing, and seeing. If you’re being repeatedly stabbed by a small needle, then they’re obviously going to go into overdrive!

When it comes to tattoos, how much it hurts, and which area hurts the most is all dependent on the person receiving the tattoo. So if you got a tattoo on your wrist and it didn’t hurt, don’t bother contacting us to put us right! Pain is subjective!

Who owns the copyright to your tattoo?

“It’s my tattoo, so I own it!”

Well, not necessarily…

The questions around tattoos and copyright is a grey area, and one which doesn’t seem to have an answer.

A tattoo doesn’t just involve you – it also involves the artist who drew it, possibly the person who designed it, and maybe even anyone in the tattoo itself. This is why things can get so complicated.

Mike Tyson’s hangover

The questions around tattoos and copyright came to the front back in 2011, when the Hangover Part 2 came out.

In the movie, Ed Helms’ character wakes up with a replica of Mike Tyson’s face tattoo. Everyone thought it was funny except the artist, who promptly sued Warner Bros. for copyright infringement.

The artist was called Victor Whitmill, and his lawyers claimed that human skin is “as tangible a medium as canvas or print material that photographers use.”

His argument is, even though it was on Mike Tyson’s face, it wasn’t Mike Tyson’s, so the company used his design without his permission.

In the end we didn’t get a legal result, because Warner Bros settled out of court, but it looked like the decision might have gone the way of the artist, which is why they settled in the end.

Cultural appropriation

Many people here in New Zealand called bullshit on the artist’s claims, pointing out the fact that he drew a Ta Moko design without any cultural associations to the country.

They said he was a hypocrite for claiming his design was “stolen”, when in fact he stole it in the first place from Maori culture.

Whitmill never contacted anyone to ask about the culture, the significance or the meaning behind Ta Moko, and by his own admission, drew it freehand when Tyson came in for a tattoo (he originally wanted a series of diamonds and hearts, arranged almost like playing cards on his face).

So, to answer the question, legally speaking, no one knows who owns a tattoo. It’s all dependent on the person, design, and circumstances, and until the law specifically spells it out, the whole area is a grey one.

Bring home a silver fern tattoo as a reminder of New Zealand

If you’ve come to New Zealand backpacking or on holiday, no doubt you’ve been blown away by the landscape, hospitality, and handsomeness of the local tattoo artists.

If you’ve decided to leave us (for some bizarre reason), then taking a tattoo home with you is the perfect souvenir. Not only does it look awesome, but it’s a great conversation starter when you’re back home, and a reminder of the best time of your life.

Silver fern tattoo

Nothing says New Zealand more than the silver fern image (other than beating Australia in the rugby).

The silver fern has been accepted as a symbol of New Zealand’s national identity since the 1880s. To Māori, the elegant shape of the fronds stood for strength, stubborn resistance, and enduring power. To Pākehā (Kiwis of non-Māori descent), the fern symbolised their sense of attachment to their homeland.

To you, it can represent your travels, the good times you had, and the friends you made.

Kiwi as bro

The fern isn’t just a native plant. It’s a symbol of New Zealand, it’s culture and it’s people. The association with our armed forces, sports teams, and politics gives it a deep emotional connection for Kiwis, and is a figure of pride for all New Zealanders.

As a visitor here, you can take a little piece of that home with you, and spread the love of New Zealand around the world for us.

Come and see us at Sunset Tattoo, and our resident Ta Moko artist Tristan will be happy to design you a silver fern that’s unique to you.

Tristan himself is of Te Rarawa descent, and his blackwork, geometric designs, and pattern work are exceptional.

Contact us today if you would like to book in for a silver fern tattoo, or just pop by our studio off K-Road and we’ll be happy to have a chat.