The problems of tattoo artists in working life: The case of Istanbul

The art of tattoo, which has come from ancient times to the present, forms a visual feast according to some and image pollution according to the others. Apart from the visual quality of tattoo, how and under what conditions it is made is also very important. This thesis is about the problems that tattoo artists in Istanbul face in business life and which institutions they consult to solve these problems. In order to find answers to these questions, 25 tattoo artists from different districts in İstanbul performing this profession is interviewed by 25 questions each. Main objective of these questions are getting to know the tattoo artists, understanding the conditions under which they do their profession, understanding the difficulty level of being a tattoo artist and finding answers to the questions that people are wondering about this art form. The first conclusion that can be drawn from the answers is that the tattoo artists think that their profession does not being appreciated as it should be. In the field researches, it is observed that there are some deficiencies in the control mechanisms related to the performing of tattoo art. This is a major problem for almost all tattoo artists. In order to make their profession to be more accepted in society, it is imperative that these control mechanisms work properly. It is thought that if these mechanisms work properly, respect for this profession and confidence in artists will increase. One of the common complaints of the artists participating in the fieldwork is that individuals who wish to get a tattoo generally prefer summer season. Although the most common season to get a tattoo is summer, tattoo artists state that for faster healing process the spring and autumn are the best seasons to get a tattoo.