Hypnagogic Hallucinations: Interview with Tattoo Artist Paul Booth
In this interview with Paul Booth, he talks about his personal heroes, modern tattooing as well as how fine art and tattoos merge naturally.
Here you step into a sacred site...it is an ancient esoteric morgue merged with the body of an alien spaceship. The walls are bathed in the velvet glow of blood red light, rusted chains hang from the ceiling, and every cavity of the room is bursting with occult objects. This is the private studio of iconic tattoo artist Paul Booth.
Paul Booth tattooing #PaulBooth #LastRites #BoothGallery #biomechanical #darkart #surrealism
I’d love if you could talk about how you got into tattooing and why you were interested in the body mod community?
Dark art tattoo by Paul Booth #PaulBooth #LastRites #BoothGallery #biomechanical #darkart #surrealism
How do you feel about tattoo culture becoming so mainstream then? Do you feel like it’s going to lose some of its magic? Some of its depth?
Painting by Paul Booth #PaulBooth #LastRites #BoothGallery #biomechanical #darkart #surrealism
How do you feel about the influence of Instagram on the industry? Do you think it’s changing things in a positive way?
Did you open up the gallery in hopes of expanding upon the tattoo community? Like were you over it being so one dimensional?
Dark art tattoo by Paul Booth #PaulBooth #LastRites #BoothGallery #biomechanical #darkart #surrealism #blackandgrey #occult #esoteric #horror #surreal
How do you choose artists for the gallery? Like Eric Lacombe, Miles Johnston...you’ve got so many great artists that you work with.
Painting by Paul Booth #PaulBooth #LastRites #BoothGallery #biomechanical #darkart #surrealism
I feel like it’s sort of incredible that the people who work with, the artists you work with, have often mentioned how kind and welcoming you are even though your space, your work can be darkly intimidating. The dichotomy between the artist themselves and the art that they make is often really disparate.
Paul Booth tattooing #PaulBooth #LastRites #BoothGallery #biomechanical #darkart #surrealism
I think thats part of why people like this art form though...probably because it is the most visceral. You can feel art emotionally, but with tattooing you really need to be present. Is that kind of part of it for you too? Do you like getting tattooed?
Dark art tattoo by Paul Booth #PaulBooth #LastRites #BoothGallery #biomechanical #darkart #surrealism #blackandgrey #occult #esoteric #horror #surreal
What was it like meeting H.R. Giger?
Do you have any projects you're working on that you want to share?
