Skin Pics

A bold reveal of a rose tattoo opens this 1980 documentary on tattooing in New Zealand. The potted history includes visits to tattoo parlours on K' Road and Hastings, and the studios of industry legends Steve Johnson and Roger Ingerton. Tattooists discuss public stigma, people's reasons for getting inked, and popular designs: sailors, serpents, swallows and tā moko. Made for documentary slot Contact, Skin Pics chronicles a time when "folk art has become high art". Director Geoff Steven later made tattoo documentary Signatures of the Soul, narrated by Easy Rider legend Peter Fonda. He writes about both docos here.

If someone’s old enough they got enough brains in their head to know what he’s getting.

– Tattooist Steve Johnson

Key Cast & Crew

Geoff Steven

Director

Julienne Stretton

Research

Bil Henderson

Editor

D.O.C. Williams

Executive Producer, Narrator