TATTOOS

Even though tattoos are still looked at as being gang related and looked down upon by many individuals in the community, it is one of the oldest forms of self-expression artistically as well as culturally. It is common in many ancient cultures such as the Mayan, Aztec, Polynesian, Asian, Indian, as well as African and many others. In the modern culture tattooing is not necessarily a form of cultural identification as related to the ancient practices but rather more often a form of self-expression and self-identification. The art of tattooing, piercings, scarification and other such practices all seem to be misunderstood by the masses, in my opinion due to ignorance and a closed-mind attitude towards the art/act on the part of the larger society.

Arsenal Tattoo by Beto

THE ART OF TATTOOING AND BODY MODIFICATION IN BELIZE

In Belize there is not a large group of ‘professional’ tattoo artists, however the few that are available are widespread throughout the country and they each have their own speciality, style and outlook on tattoos and tattooing. I recently got the opportunity to sit and talk with one of the few artists and I must say that even though I was already intrigued by tattoos and tattooing, being that I have one myself, I found the conversation to be stimulating and it opened my mind about tattooing as well as other forms of body modification such as piercings and scarring.

Tattoo Shop: Red Dragon Studio
Location: Belmopan City (Upstairs Venus’ Complex)
Opening hours: 9:00 am – 6:00 pm Mon – Sat (also does at-home session as requested by client)
Services: Tattooing & piercing (tongue, eyebrow, lips, ears, belly-button, etc…)
Name of Artists: Alberto “Beto” Narvaez
Experience: 10+ years
Tattoing Style: Tribal, realistic, color work, traditional, black and gray (shadowing) etc…

Beto piece

 

Interview

LAUREN: “Why did you become interested in tattoos and tattooing?”

BETO: “From when I was a young boy I have been drawing. When I was about 15 I really became interested in tattoos and I went and got my first. After that I made a tattoo machine and began practicing.”

LAUREN: “When did you first start to work professionally as a tattoo artist?”

BETO: “I began tattooing first in Cayo about 7 years ago or so when I opened my first shop. But before that about two years or so after I started tattooing I got a professional tattoo machine and I was tattooing from at home in Corozal which is where I am from.”

LAUREN: ‘Have you always worked in Belmopan or have you worked in other districts in the country or even out of the country?”

BETO: “As I said I opened my first shop in Cayo where I stayed for a couple of years. After that I moved back to Corozal and opened another shop. When I was working in Corozal, Steve from Stinging Scorpion in Belize City came to see me and asked me to go and work with him. I said yes because I saw it as an opportunity to gain experience and work under a well established artist. I worked with Steve for about a year and now I have my own shop here in Belmopan which has been open for a month now. I’ve never worked out of the country but I plan to one day, as soon as I establish my shop and have someone who can work here when I am not. I love Belize and I plan to always work here, but the international exposure allows you as an artist to gain new experiences and see new styles of tattooing and body art.”

Beto working on a piece

LAUREN: “What have been your experience working in different areas of the   country; is it the same everywhere or different?”

BETO: “I think that everyone that comes to me for either a tattoo or even a piercing is different. Every tattoo is different and everyone is different in how they react; why they want the tattoo and what type of tattoo they want. You would be surprised to see the different types of people that get tattoos; teachers, nurses, policemen, students. I did a lot of tattoos on tourists when I was working at Steve’s in Belize City; some from America, France, Spain, all over. I remember once when I did tattoos for a mother, her son and her daughter, and the daughter was only bout 10 or so at the time.”

LAUREN: “Have you always been tattooing from since you started?”

BETO: “No actually, for a couple of years I was not working, tattooing and having a shop due to personal problems. At one point when I got involved in tattooing I also got involved in a gang and so I started to hang out more and more. After that I started to work again and focus on improving my skills but the lifestyle that accompanies tattooing is sometimes distracting.”

Grim Reaper tattoo in the early stages

LAUREN: “What do you mean that it is sometimes distracting?”

BETO: “Well, at one point I was tattooing but I was also hanging out a lot with friends. After I finished working at the shop we would go out for a couple of drinks and the next thing I know is that I am broke, drunk and the next day is already here. Hahaha, this life is crazy. At one point I even got involved in heavy drug use but that’s behind me now and I am glad. Now I am more focused and I plan to keep it that way, I have to establish a line that separates my business from friends and hanging out.”

LAUREN: “What would you say was the most interesting or bizarre tattoo experience you’ve had so far?”

BETO: “Hmm, that’s a hard one. I’ve had so much that I can’t think of one that really sticks out. I can remember once when I was hanging out with a friend and she decided to have a party at her house. Well we invited a couple of people over and we got so wasted that after a while she said that everyone who was there had to get a piercing and they all agreed to do it. I was piercing people in all spots imaginable. This profession is a crazy one and you have too many crazy moments to have one single one that outshines all the rest.”

LAUREN: “What has the tattooing been like?”

BETO: “I like tattooing, from the moment that I saw someone getting a tattoo I wanted to become involved with it. I know that sometimes it can be rough or challenging, since you are dealing with a lot of different people, but I love it. As a tattoo artist I have to have a lot of patience to deal with the bullshit that some people come with. But hey it’s my job.”

Grim tat further along

LAUREN: “What has the tattooing been like?”

BETO: “I like tattooing, from the moment that I saw someone getting a tattoo I wanted to become involved with it. I know that sometimes it can be rough or challenging, since you are dealing with a lot of different people, but I love it. As a tattoo artist I have to have a lot of patience to deal with the bullshit that some people come with. But hey it’s my job.” 

Lauren: “What has the tattooing been like?”

BETO: “I like tattooing, from the moment that I saw someone getting a tattoo I wanted to become involved with it. I know that sometimes it can be rough or challenging, since you are dealing with a lot of different people, but I love it. As a tattoo artist I have to have a lot of patience to deal with the bullshit that some people come with. But hey it’s my job.”

Contact Info: Cell: +501-668-4224                              Email: reddragon_beto@hotamil.com