Tattoo convention in Hong Kong

Hundreds of ink lovers descended upon Hong Kong’s international tattoo convention on Sunday
Using traditional hand tool methods known as Irezumi the process translates to ‘stab or insert ink’
Striking photographs highlight the colourful body artwork on display across the giant expo

By Rod Ardehali For Mailonline

Published: 17:13 BST, 30 September 2017 | Updated: 17:21 BST, 30 September 2017

Hundreds of body art fans arrived at the Hong Kong International Tattoo Convention on Sunday – Asia’s largest expo featuring more than 300 tattooist from across the continent.

Using traditional hand tool methods known as Irezumi – the process literally means to ‘inset or stab ink’ – hardcore tattoo fans flocked to the event for their dose of the colourful skin art.

Large metal or wooden tools cut into the skin with ink then injected in a slower, more painful method than that of standard ink gun tattoos.

Some attendees were photographed from head to toe with Japanese and Chinese iconography and cultural designs adorning their bodies.

Bare faced cheek: Two confident attendees display their tattoos in a stall at the Hong Kong China International Tattoo Convention showing off their near entire body art with a Japanese samurai as the central focus of their work

Head down: A tattoo artists mixes flair with precision to create one man's unique head piece. Placing a hand on his subject's head for control, he expertly carves the look into the man's scalp

Head down: A tattoo artists mixes flair with precision to create one man’s unique head piece. Placing a hand on his subject’s head for control, he expertly carves the look into the man’s scalp

Lying still: With his hair tied up in a samurai style, the subject clasps his hands together in pain while dozens of attendees watch on

Lying still: With his hair tied up in a samurai style, the subject clasps his hands together in pain while dozens of attendees watch on

Painful process: Grimacing during the session, the ink lover - already covered in body art - can be seen listening to musicto distract him from the agony

Painful process: Grimacing during the session, the ink lover – already covered in body art – can be seen listening to musicto distract him from the agony

Three's a crowd: With four artists around him, a tattoo lover undergoes a full body tattoo session including on his lower back, shoulders and even his behind

Three’s a crowd: With four artists around him, a tattoo lover undergoes a full body tattoo session including on his lower back, shoulders and even his behind

Cool customer: Relaxing as an artist inks a detailed design onto his left arm, one attendees appears relaxed and casual while dozens watch him on

Cool customer: Relaxing as an artist inks a detailed design onto his left arm, one attendees appears relaxed and casual while dozens watch him on

Full body: A woman dons a thin pink thong while standing at the convention looking pensive, the heavily tattooed girl cuts an effortlessly cool figure at the convention

Full body: A woman dons a thin pink thong while standing at the convention looking pensive, the heavily tattooed girl cuts an effortlessly cool figure at the convention