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Edong wins big in tattoo contest in Thailand
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Posted on May 27 2008
Local tattoo artist Dragon Edong won first place in the “Tattoo of the Day” category at the 2nd Annual World Tattoo & Arts Festival in Bangkok, Thailand, last May 16-18, 2008.
Using a picture of his three children as his design, he impressed the judges enough to win first place out of 17 opponents. The contest was judged on originality, creativity, and placement on the body.
“There were some people there that wanted to volunteer [to be tattooed], but I didn’t want to do it for free so. I decided to do it on my wife,” he said.
It took him three hours to get the tattoo done on the back of his wife, Fe.
Edong competed against contestants from the United States, United Kingdom (London), Japan, Italy, Singapore, Taiwan, New Zealand, France, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, Hong Kong, Canada, and Norway.
The three-day event had four categories. Edong participated in the “best tattoo of the day” category during the final day of the festival.
About 50 artists participated in this event, which was intended to educate people about safety in tattooing, and to broaden their mind that it’s not bad at all.
Edong said that tattooing has always been his interest for 28 years because he finds it unique. “I learned to do it by myself. Also, I think it runs in the family,” he said.
He took up a four-year course in Fine Arts in the Philippines. “Bon Ten also trained me in Japan. He taught me the Japanese style during the samurai times.”
This December, Edong will be going to the International Tattoo Convention in the Philippines. “I usually go to three festivals a year,” he added.
Edong will be selling t-shirts and hats with his own art designs called “Kooleksions.” The grand opening will be on May 31.
For more information, check out his website at www.saipantatufest.com or www.eldrakotattoo.com. You can also visit his office at Mega Vision El Dragon Tattoo Studio in Garapan.
