Rye Lanez has fought its corner. A few months on from the threat of eviction the studio is here to stay, thanks to local campaign group ‘Guardians of the Arches’ and a successful fundraising event. Brixton boy Billy Jay Holmes speaks to Lanez’ long-serving guest artist Gringo, 23, about his stories and experiences as an upcoming tattooist in London.
What was the first tattoo you inked, Gringo?
The first tat I banged out was a really shit Union Jack on my left foot. I was 14 when it was the first thing I could think of – it hurt so much! I was using a cheap kit off the internet, a really sketchy machine and I had no idea how to use it properly. I’m from Santiago, Chile where I used to hang around in a studio. I was that annoying little kid who asked hundreds of questions and practised on my mates.
They have a completely different perspective on tattoos there – it’s much more of a gang statement to get tatted whereas over here it’s far more common. In London you can have a normal guy walking down the street with gang-inspired tattoos and no one bats an eyelid! In Chile you’d immediately be recognised as a gang member, it’s mad.
When I moved here from Chile I was 16 and no one wanted to take on a minor from South America who had been doing gang-style tattoos. Who wants to take on a 16-year-old from Chile? Being isolated from artistic people stunted my creativity, whereas here I’m surrounded by a wealth of talent.
They have a completely different perspective to tattoos in Chile – it’s a gang statement – but here it’s far more common
How long have you been at Rye Lanez for?
I’ve been guesting for five months and it’s been amazing – there are hardly any other spaces like this in London. All the boys at the shop are from South East and it’s a community of people that have bonded over their passion for creating art. It started in a tiny space in Peckham and the business grew quickly, so it’s huge now.
You can have up to 12 artists working at once. It’s crazy to see the growth of the business and the popularity of the artists. It started with the owner, Moby, and his mates smashing out tattoos for people in South London and grew from there.
We like to keep a balance between male and female artists as well. It wasn’t the easiest ride due to the possible eviction but the community stood up and spoke! Now Lanez is here to stay in its rightful home.
People’s relationship with London seems to be a common theme in the tattoos here, what’s behind that?
Londonboy who works here has created a style that celebrates what it’s like to grow up in the capital, effortlessly combining the urban with the organic. Although traditional tattooing will always be timeless, the demand for ignorant black work has recently become really popular.
Londonboy is mixing crazy stuff together like chicken boxes with scenes popping out; he celebrates what it’s like to be a true Londoner. This appreciation of London’s aesthetic allows a broad variety of designs to come out of the studio – from TFL Tubes to rave-inspired pieces!
Traditional tattooing will always be timeless but the demand for ignorant black work has become really popular
It’s similar to how you see Latinos getting Jesus pieces, it’s part of their culture. Now we have this new style that allows Londoners to really celebrate their culture. These tattoos allow you to represent the city like never before, it’s a permanent visual representation of your relationship with London.
What new concepts have you been working on at the studio?
I use DMT and Iowaska in an incredibly spiritual way, due to my heritage. I recently did a DMT ceremony and off the back of that there was a flood of ideas that came to me. After that one particular ceremony I couldn’t stop drawing – one idea came after another. I started drawing Disney characters who were under the influence of hallucinogenic drugs, inspired from Alice in Wonderland.
There were some that were really dark and scary. Some other designs were calmer but this reflects the journey you take when doing these ceremonies – it’s not for recreation it’s for you to benefit and learn from.
We have this new style that allows Londoners to really celebrate their city like never before, a permanent visual representation of your relationship with London.
Have you ever encountered ‘problem clients’ asking for a tattoo you morally can’t accept?
As long as there’s no negative energy in the design – anything suggesting racist or sexist ideologies – I’m happy to do it. My friends have started getting weird butt tattoos. In the old shop there was this guy who wanted a massive Nike tick on his forehead and he was really adamant that he wanted it.
This one guy came in who wanted a massive Nike tick on his forehead
The shop asked him a hundred times if he really wanted to go through with it but he was defiant. They put the stencil on and suddenly he steps outside and the staff watch as he smokes a rock of crack. At that point that the shop had to get him out. He was obviously just a crack head who decided that day he wanted a Nike tick on his forehead. Peckham can be fucking crazy.
What’s your new 100 faces project?
It started two years ago when a client didn’t really know what he wanted but asked for a single line tattoo that resembled a face, so I started doodling some quite abstract designs for him. He was really happy with the design and from then on loads of my clients have been requesting more. I started to do more and more and then a few weeks ago I thought I should do a whole series of a hundred freehand faces.
It was super fun doing these – you never know what might come out when doing these freehand single lines. Some clients see completely different things in some of the faces. They’re Picasso-esque in style so I’ve been revisiting some of his art.
Although they’re small and simple, it took me quite a while to get all one hundred faces together. There are only so many lines and shapes that you can really play with. I’ve done quite a few now. I have some designs left so I would love to finish all one hundred this year.
Rye Lanez Tattooing can be found at 22A Blenheim Grove, opposite All Saints Church (SE15 4QL)
