- Mamaink Manager
- Jun 13
- 4 min read
The MamaInk team recently had the opportunity to attend the Taipei Tattoo Convention in Taiwan. This convention is not only one of the most highly anticipated tattoo events in Asia, but is also an opportunity for artists from all over the continent to connect, explore a diverse range of creative practices, and to stay both inspired and up-to-date on a rapidly evolving industry.
The 2026 convention proved to be especially meaningful, as MamaInk was honoured to receive both 1st and 2nd place awards in two competitions. It was a valuable remember to all members of the team as to why we are always seeking ways to learn, grow, and develop as artists.
The Energy of Huashan 1914 Creative Park
The convention venue was Huashan 1914 Creative Park, a former colonial-era distillery that was converted into a cultural and arts venue. With the exposed concrete walls and beamed ceilings of the distillery still intact, Huashan Creative Park is a Taipei landmark that is not only a reminder of Taiwanese history, but also a hub of creativity for today’s Taipei residents.
Huashan Park was filled with artists, tattoo enthusiasts, and collectors from all across ASia and beyond. Each booth proudly showcased the artistic praxis of its studio and resident artists, showcasing the true diversity of 21st century tattooing.
Across the three day event, live tattooing sessions took place, which allowed both visitors and convention participants to watch pieces being done in real time. Although, of course there is great value in seeing photographs of tattoos online or in an artist’s portfolio, these live demonstrations gave everyone an appreciation for the skill, patience, and dedication behind each piece. A huge range of tattooing styles were represented, including Japanese traditional, black and grey realism, fine line, neo-traditional, and large scale custom projects.
A Cultural and Artistic Exchange
Over the long weekend, members of the MamaInk Team had many opportunities to meet artists from a wide range of cultural backgrounds. In these conversations, we exchanged ideas, discussed techniques, and compared our own personal experiences about the tattoo cultures in our home countries.
It became clear to all of us that the common thread we all shared was artists is that we never felt our learning was over. We all were constantly looking for new ways to build upon our work. Valuable conversations were started concerning composition, technique, he attoo. storytelling, and the meaning and importance of future-proofing a tattoo. We boarded the plan back to Seoul with lots of ideas we couldn’t wait to try ourselves.
Tattoos Beyond the Social Media Algorithm
Although it is now arguably an industry standard for tattooists to have their portfolios readily available on social media, the convention allowed the MamaInk artists to see an enormous range of tattooed work in-person and firsthand.
The team was able to closely examine healed work, large-scale and full body projects, and award-winning pieces from some of the world’s top artists. And as a result, we were able to understand the level of flow, contrast, detail, and composition in a way that is impossible to truly convey via photograph. This was a valuable reminder that tattooing is inseperable from designing work that is in tandem with the flow structure of human anatomy.
A Proud Moment for MamaInk
Among all the unforgettable moments from the convention, the awards ceremony was undoubtedly the highlight.
Surrounded by outstanding artists and impressive work from around the world, we were incredibly honoured to see our artist Hwal receive both 1st and 2nd place awards.
The recognition meant a great deal to us, not only because of the results themselves but because they reflected the countless hours of dedication, practice, and preparation behind every tattoo. The trophies from the 2026 convention are now proudly displayed at the main entrance of our shop.
The Importance of Conventions
Events like the Taipei Tattoo Convention create opportunities for artists to learn, collaborate, and challenge themselves while helping tattoo culture continue to evolve globally.
Tattooists must never forget they are part of an international community. As creative practices are increasingly being taken over by AI, conventions such as this serve as a reminder that tattooing is a human art. And as such, the more connections we can make across the world, the more we can continue to inspire one another and preserve tattooing as a true art made by people and for people
Looking Forward
Our experience at the Taipei Tattoo Convention was both inspiring and humbling. Over three days, we met incredible artists, saw outstanding work, and gained valuable insights that will influence our future projects. Receiving 1st and 2nd place awards was an honor, but more importantly, the event reminded us that there is always more to learn and more room to grow.
We are grateful to everyone who supported us throughout this journey and look forward to bringing everything we learned back into our future work. We sincerely thank you for always following our journey. We hope to see you at future conventions around the world.