Introducing Bernard Kwok! The newest member of the Sunset Family.

We here at Sunset Tattoo are super super excited to welcome Bernard Kwok to the team as a resident artist. Bernard was born in Hong Kong, and moved to New Zealand as a teenager. He did his apprenticeship under Mike Wilson, who mentored some of the best tattooers of our time, Luke W, Greggletron and our very own Milky!

Incredible dragon tattoo by Bernard Kwok!

After the spending the last four years in Hong Kong, Bernard and his partner have moved back to Auckland, and we couldn’t be luckier. With his tattoo roots held firmly in American traditional tattooing, we love his wild Hong Kong spin on things.

Grasshopper by Bernard Kwok.

If you’re keen on a truly unique piece by one of New Zealand’s best kept secrets, be sure to contact the studio with your ideas. Or better yet, come have a chat to him about his ideas! Nothing is too much of a challenge for Bernard. Don’t sleep on the dragon lord, the words out!

By Bernard Kwok.

CONTACT:

www.sunsettattoo.co.nz
info@sunsettattoo.co.nz
(+649)3763423

Traditional Ta Moko and contemporary Maori tattoos.

We’re privileged to have such incredible Maori artists applying their practising their craft at Sunset. Manawa Tapu, Thomas Clark and apprentice Fern Ngatai are not only honouring their culture and heritage through craft, they are also changing the game of Maori tattooing from super traditional Ta Moko (and Kirituhi) through to contemporary and personal takes on Maori pattern work.

Traditional Ta Moko by Manawa Tapu.

Manawa Tapu is constantly pushing boundaries and looking for new and exciting ways to interpret his work. He has been doing some incredible work with Tukutuku and Tāniko patterns, and has recently started some bodysuits using these designs. These are a great commitment for both the artist and the wearer, and we can’t wait to see the finished results.

Tukutuku Pattern Tattoo by Manawa Tapu.

Ta Moko is a beautiful way for Maori to visually represent their Whakapapa, Kaitiaki, Whanau and milestones in their lives, as well as connecting with their culture and community. The term Kirituhi is often used when applying Maori patterns to non-Maori people, as a way for Maori artists to share their expertise and culture without the issue of appropriation. As long as the wearer is respectful of the Mana and meaning held in these important patterns, Maori artists are usually very happy to tattoo non-Maori people, as they are showing Manaakitanga (love and support) to both the artist and culture through such a bold and permanent act by getting tattooed.

Ta Moko by Manawa Tapu.

If you’re interested getting tattooed, or to learn more about Ta Moko and contemporary Maori tattooing, please contact the studio! Whether it be to connect with your culture, to commemorate an important journey, or to honour Aotearoa (New Zealand) in a truly authentic way, our artists would love to help you out.

CONTACT:

www.sunsettattoo.co.nz
info@sunsettattoo.co.nz
(+649)3763423

Horimatsu Bunshin, our resident Tebori artist.

Horimatsu Bunshin has taken Sunset by storm since moving here in late 2019. We are super ecstatic to have him here, he is an absolute master at Traditional Japanese tattooing, and has raised the bar of our studio to an even higher level. Horimatsu has started lots of sleeves since here, including this rad dragon sleeve which is only a session away from finishing!

Japanese Dragon Sleeve by Horimatsu Bunshin - all shading done by Tebori.

When you get tattooed by Horimatsu, all shading is done using traditional Japanese methods, aka “Tebori”. Tebori translates to “hand carving” which sounds like your experience will be way slower and more painful than modern electric tattooing, however most people find it the exact opposite. Tebori generally is a lot less traumatic on the skin, causing less bleeding and scabbing during the healing process. Tattoos can also increase in brightness and look better with age!

Japanese Fu Dog Tattoo by Horimatsu Bunshin - all shading done by Tebori.

If you’re keen to for a different tattoo experience than the electric tattoo machines we all know and love, contact the studio to organise a consultation time with Horimatsu Bunshin. From full Irezumi style body suits, to gorgeous one shot Japanese tattoos, Horimatsu welcomes all those wanting to experience Japanese tattooing at it’s most authentic!

Japanese Kingyo (goldfish) by Horimatsu Bunshin - all shading done by Tebori.

CONTACT:

www.sunsettattoo.co.nz
info@sunsettattoo.co.nz
+(649)3763423

Check out these 12 Chinese Calendar tattoos!

Happy Chinese New Year!

This year is the Year of the Rat, the first of all zodiac animals. According to one myth, the Jade Emperor said the order would be decided by the order in which they arrived to his party. The Rat tricked the Ox into giving him a ride. Then, just as they arrived at the finish line, Rat jumped down and landed ahead of Ox, becoming first.

The Rat is also associated with the Earthly Branch (地支—dì zhī) Zi (子) and the midnight hours. In the terms of yin and yang (阴阳—yīn yáng), the Rat is yang and represents the beginning of a new day.

In Chinese culture, rats were seen as a sign of wealth and surplus. Because of their reproduction rate, married couples also prayed to them for children.

Check out 12 of the best Chinese Zodiac tattoo we found on browsing the internet.

Rat years: 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020.

Years of the Ox: 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009, 2021

Years of the Tiger: 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010, 2022

Years of the Rabbit: 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011, 2023

Years of the Dragon: 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012, 2024

Snake years: 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013, 2025

Horse Years: 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014, 2026

Years of the Ram: 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015, 2027

Monkey years: 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016,

Rooster years: 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017

Year of the dog: 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018

Year of the Pig: 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019

Check out the Sunset Studio merch!

If you’re a fan of the studio, our artists, or just tattoos in general, then check out some of our kick-ass merchandise available now through our website and in the studio.

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!