Tahunanui is going to be the place to be for tattoo fans next month when the Tahuna Beach Holiday Park Conference Centre hosts INK’D 13 Tattoo and Art Show.

A 12-hour celebration of body art, INK’D 13 will feature live entertainment including tattoo artists in action, dance demonstrations, so-called ‘‘extreme lingerie’’, hula hoops, amazing physical feats, a pole performer, custom cars, custom motorbikes, piercings and lots of people with lots of ink on their bodies.

The annual event that’s in its second year is being organised by Nelson tattoo fans Jasmine Grew and Brendan Benjamin who are expecting a big crowd.

‘‘There was attendance of over 800 people last year and we’re expecting three times more people this year,’’ Mr Benjamin said.

The entertainment line up includes: entertainers The Living Dolls, burlesque dancer and acrobat Venus Starr and pole performer Trina Star. There will be a tattoo contest open to all comers featuring 50 categories including everything from the best back to the best portrait. There will also be stalls selling clothing and food.

Ms Grew and Mr Benjamin both got their first tattoos as teenagers and claim to be addicted to ink.

‘‘I’d have been about 15 and it was a skull. Now I’ve got over $15,000 worth of tattoos on me. I’ll stop when I run out of skin,’’ Mr Benjamin said.

Ms Grew got her first tattoo, a feather, when she was 16. Now she has about $10,000 worth of ink on her body and plans for lots more. ‘‘It’s so addictive. Everyone says they’re just getting one and then it spirals,’’ she said.

Both Ms Grew and Mr Benjamin see their tattoos as being major parts of their identity.

‘‘I think they make you distinctive as a person. You stand out. It’s how people recognise me,’’ Ms Grew said.

‘‘You’ll never lose these pieces of art. You’ll take them to your grave,’’ Mr Benjamin said.

They both expect a wide range of people, inked and ink-free, to attend the show and stress it is a family-friendly event with children getting in for free.



INK’D 13 will be followed by a party at Rattle and Hum in Bridge St. The post match will feature another appearance by Venus Starr along with a performance by fellow burlesque artist Ruby Ruin.

Tickets for the party will be $5 and only be available at INK’D 13. For more information search ‘‘Out There’’ on Facebook.