Photobook by Jimmy Shy and Yu Chang Documents Hong Kong's Post-War Tattoo Style
Taiwan-based tattoo artist Jimmy Shy and street-film photographer Yu Chang created a photobook to record Hong Kong's diminishing post-war tattoo culture, encountering unpredictable subjects during their documentation.
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According to the South China Morning Post, a photobook created by Jimmy Shy and Yu Chang chronicles the unique tattoo style that emerged in Hong Kong following the war, while also challenging common stereotypes associated with triads.
Shy, who is based in Taiwan, and Yu Chang, a street-film photographer, traveled to Hong Kong with the goal of documenting the city's fading history related to post-war tattoos. They established a single rule for their project: they would only locate their subjects in public spaces.
Shy stated that the project, which officially commenced in 2023, had roots in casual phone photography from years prior. He noted that many tattoos were concealed beneath clothing, requiring the duo to persuade individuals to display their body art for documentation.
The encounters during the project were described as unpredictable. One instance involved a construction worker who insisted that Shy and Chang assist him with carrying cement before he would agree to be photographed. Separately, another subject declined to be photographed until Shy, who is 40, and Chang, who is 37, displayed their own tattoos, which led to a situation resembling a competition.
Shy recalled that the subject who refused to be photographed revealed a large, old eagle tattoo on his body after the exchange, noting that the tattoo was beautiful.
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