VENEZUELA: The 'Human Checkerboard', 'Vampire Woman' and 'Devil from Colombia' show off their astonishing body art at the annual Venezuelan Tattoo Expo

Record ID: 860134

  • Title: VENEZUELA: The 'Human Checkerboard', 'Vampire Woman' and 'Devil from Colombia' show off their astonishing body art at the annual Venezuelan Tattoo Expo
  • Date: 26th January 2013
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) WOMAN KNOWN AS THE 'VAMPIRE WOMAN,' MARIA JOSE CRISTERNA, SAYING: "Freedom of expression, at its fullest, no taboos, no prejudice and above all, dignify women and move forward."
  • Embargoed: 10th February 2013 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of
  • City:
  • Country: Venezuela
  • Topics: Arts,Quirky
  • Reuters ID: LVA3E4G41KPVE8TVE3S0RBUEE3EM
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  • Story Text: The third annual Venezuela Tattoo Expo was in full swing in Caracas on Friday (January 25), showcasing some of the most celebrated and outlandish body art one could possibly imagine.
    The vibrant four-day event featured some regular faces, so to say, seen at tattoo events around the world including Oregon native Matt Gone who has 98 percent of his body covered in tattoos and is known as the 'Human Checkerboard'.
    Gone, a regular fixture at tattoo events, was one of a handful of featured guests at the expo.

    "I got tattooed not to hate my body. I have rare birth defects, many medical issues. I have seven birth defects and kidney disease. I did not want to hate my body because of my medical problems so I hid my birth defects with the tattoos. I got my body more special with the tattoos. So I had a sick body and now I have a tattooed body," Gone said.
    The event also featured more than 300 tattoo artists and attracted scores of body art enthusiasts, eager to show off their ink, piercings and other body alterations.
    In addition to the plethora of intricate ink images, the expo also catered to fans of other forms of body modification including sub and transdermal implants - procedures whereby objects are placed underneath the skin to create a raised design.
    Another guest, Mexican woman Maria Jose Cristerna, who has come to be known as the 'Vampire Woman,' said body art is a form of self expression.

    "Freedom of expression, at its fullest, no taboos, no prejudice and above all, dignify women and move forward," Cristerna said.
    Also showcased was artist Cain Tubal from neighbouring Colombian who some call 'The Devil from Colombia.'
    "I have always been attracted to body transformations. So I decided to go for it because I don't know if I will be here tomorrow. So if you don't do the things that will make you feel better about yourself now, you'll never do them," Tubal said.
    Workshops, fashion shows, concerts, and of course, the opportunity to get some 'ink done' in one of the many tattoo booths, were all part of the events' packed agenda.
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