Week Three: Reaction to Current Events - "Meet Homepoke, Toronto's Anonymous Stick 'n' Poke Iconoclast"

We are surrounded by a world full of politics, chaos, terrorism, natural disasters, economics, history, poverty, celebrity gossip, and technological innovations. With news outlets, like the New York Times, CNN, Al Jazeera, the BBC, Fox News, and the Wall Street Journal, we are very much always and fully aware of the ups and downs of our changing society. However, with a news medium such as VICE, we still are presented with the constant occurrences that happen daily. With this, there are always some current ideas, events, and experiences that are also subject to be discussed and talked about. The article, Meet Homepoke, Toronto's Anonymous Stick 'n' Poke Iconoclast, written by Aidan Johnston that originally appeared on VICE Canada, discusses the specific artistic style of tattooing, the stick ‘n’ poke. In this interview, anonymous artist, Homepoke, conveys all of the different elements that make up the distinguished art of tattooing that

has been incredibly judged and misinterpreted, similar to the perception of Photography as an art form.

Homepoke makes several interesting points within this article and interview that are concrete expressions towards tattoo and stick ‘n’ poke art. Within these revelations, these ideas can also represent other misconceptions of other artistic representations, for example, with the art of Photography. With the analysis of stick ‘n’ pokes, it can easily assessed that this style of tattooing has been considered a representation of Russian jail time, the expression of teenage angst, or just pure rebellion. Homepoke states that these judgments made towards this style of art, are misunderstood assessments. Stick ‘n’ pokes are truly made up of so many different components that makes its meaning more substantial. Homepoke believes that the stick ‘n’ poke is much less intrusive and invasive than machine tattooing. He also acknowledges that when it comes to this notable style, the goal of the finish product is to display a design that is simplistic and abstract.

Homepoke has built a business in his basement that is different than a tattoo parlor, but just a place where he was able to take his hobby and share it with others.  Continuing with his thoughts on the profession he has chosen, Homepoke states, “I like to protect myself. I believe in local marketplaces and DIY, and I don’t necessarily believe in the government having its hand in everything.” This was a crucial component of Homepoke’s discussion, the one trait of stick ‘n’ pokes that should be immensely appreciated of what an independent art expression it is. The interaction between the government and economics with art takes a great deal away from the independent and individualistic of ones own form of personal expression and investments. Homepoke ends this interview on a high note where he states that it is the investment in the art that allows him to be invested in life. For him, the stick ‘n’ poke allows him to feel connected to the world and to the people who live in it with him.

This article is clearly about an artist and his methods and drive to create stick ‘n’ pokes. While reading it, I was able to pull two strong interpretations from it that I not only applied to photography in literal and physical way with my representation of the article in photographic form, but also in a way that is figurative towards the perception of photography. In the images that I took, my representation of this article consists of the false hoods of image perception. We, who appreciate, respect, and greatly want to represent our individual selves in an artistic way with our body as the platform, must go through pain and agony to depict these images. With my photo series, I display a large amount of stick and poke style on several individuals that were simply drawn on with marker. These photos are then contrasted with a man who has had several tattoos done via machine in a very stick ‘n’ poke or sailor style. The idea behind this series is to create a representation between the actual lengths that one must go through and the drive behind it to truly represent them. When we look at applying the ideas presented in this article to the figurative side of photography, it has been greatly been acknowledged that photography in and of itself is a misunderstood art form. This is true for not one, but two reasons. First, Photography, not being a sculpture, drawing, or painting as always received a questionable interpretation on weather or not it is truly a fine art. The second interpretation comes from the fact that, the art that is Photography, can also be greatly misperceived, misinterpreted, or completely unreadable or understandable. Like, Homepoke, and his art of the stick ‘n’ poke, we are surrounded by a world of false impressions, it is truly the individual that knows what the truest of components of our artistic representations are.

 Meet Hompoke, Toronto's Anonymous Stick 'n' Poke Iconoclast