Interview w/ Vince Hemington

Vince Hemington is one of the creators the site vanishingtattoos (he created the site with tattoo artist Thomas Lockhart). Vanishing tattoos is a good site for anyone who is into tattoos. It has something for everyone at any level of interest; there are pages about celebrity tattoos, for those of us who are celebrity obsessed and boast the largest online tattoo museum in the world, for those who are into learning about the history and culture significance of different types of tattooing and tattoo designs. The site covers everything from tribal tattoos to contemporary design and even offers statistics on tattoos in America. It is a great resource if you want to learn more about a particular style or just to get some ideas for your own tat.

Vince was kind enough to let me interview him for an intern project and figured it would be cool to throw up on here:

Me:When did you begin the site?
Vince Hemington: Vanishing tattoo.com was launched on September 6, 1999.

M:Why did you create it?
V:It was a new and interesting way to distribute our documentary series proposal to broadcasters all over the world. It was also a means to post some of research as an information resource to people interested in indigenous tattoos and body art in general.

M:I really like the museum portion of the site, it is really different from the rest of the site and not just visually but seems more formal. Can you explain why you created it and why it is set up the way it is?
V:The Museum is intended to be more rigorously academic and research oriented.
The look came about because the Museum was developed two years ago and I was interested in a unique design and aesthetic for that section of the website. I also wanted the Museum section to feel like it had been curated and the sections to look like Museum Halls.

M:I am curious to just hear what draws you to devote yourself to tattoos.
V:Here's the long answer.
http://www.vanishingtattoo.com/sacred_mark.htm

M:What do you think about tattoo culture in the media (i.e. Miami Ink and L.A Ink). Is it a positive or a negative?
V:It undoubtedly raises the profile of tattooing among the general public, but it is clearly entertainment and not a very reliable or realistic portrayal of tattooing culture.
The general media is even more blissfully ignorant of the history and heritage of tattooing and body art within popular culture. That's the reason I continue the site.

M:Where do you get most of the information for the site?
V:All the written material on the web site was either written by myself or other credited writers, based on our research.
In the Museum section, we have a bibliography.

M:What was it like to film the Vanishing Tattoo Documentary?
V:It really was one of those, "Once in a lifetime" types of experiences. Quite extraordinary.

M:You seem to use a lot of different mediums to explore and talk about tattoos, what do you hope to accomplish through all this?
V:Pictures, photos, the written word and film all offer unique and interesting ways to convey information and knowledge to people in a way that you hope they will find both informative and enjoyable.