SINGAPORE — Getting a table reservation at one of the most exclusive restaurants in the world isn’t easy. Most of them have waiting lists that last months (New York City Restaurant Damon Baehrel has a wait list of — wait for it — 10 years). Similarly, tattoo enthusiasts have to wait three years to get one done by Hong Kong tattoo artist Joey Pang, the world’s only professional Chinese calligraphy tattoo artist.

Last month, two Singaporeans, 28-year-old sports entrepreneur Nicholas Tan and ​​30-year-old educator Alwin Song, were given a chance to jump to the top of that list — thanks to Tiger Beer’s Uncage campaign — and pop over to Pang’s Tattoo Temple studio in Hong Kong.

“I chose the words ‘en ai’ as my tattoo, to me, represents a deep love for those who matter the most and living a free unshackled life,” said Tan. “I originally asked for these words to be printed in the form of one of those old Chinese wax seals, but Joey suggested a more artistic placement, which would allow the words to float separately.”

As for Song, his tattoo is the title of a song by one of his favourite bands, Beyond. “One of its classics, Hai Kuo Tian Kong, has been an inspiration and pillar of strength for me in trying times,” he said. “It reminds me to keep my perspective open and positive.”

“They had some good ideas,” said Pang, who added that the whole process was very collaborative. Depending on what the clients want, it can take months to conceive and prepare each piece. “(But) they knew what was meaningful to them and were excited about the process. It was a pleasure working with them.”

Pang said she had worked with several well-known Singaporeans, although she declined to name them. “There have been a number of well-known business people, designers, architects and professionals. We cannot advertise their names for privacy reasons and this is why in many of the photos, you do not see the clients’ faces. We also do not advertise celebrity clients as this takes the attention away from the artwork.” We ask the artist about her work.

Q: How many people from Singapore are on your wait list?

A: There are a number of clients from Singapore who have had tattoos from Tattoo Temple as well as many who are currently on the waiting list. At the moment, I would say there are more than a few hundred Singaporeans on the waiting lists for the different artists here (Pang is only one of a few at Tattoo Temple). It has been our experience that Singaporeans have a good appreciation of body art. We have remote consultations and calls with Singaporeans up to five times a week on average.

Q: Calligraphy is a signature style for you. How different is that from tattooing images?

A: In a sense, whether you are tattooing a portrait or Chinese calligraphy, it is artwork. The techniques for each style vary according to the piece as well as the client’s body. Each piece is hand-prepared by the artist who is tattooing it. It will never be used for anyone else. This differs from “flash” or pre-fabricated designs because tattoo art must be unique. If you can’t draw it from scratch, you can’t tattoo it.

Q: How does the process generally work, from booking a session to getting a tattoo completed?

A: We would first discuss with the clients ideas for the piece and their preferences, and answer any questions they have about the process. We would collect a range of information, including art, that they would like us to consider during the creation stage as well as photos of the areas to be tattooed. So the time between confirming the design direction and when we would see them in the studio to check the size or placement of a tattoo can range from three months to four years. It is, just like the artwork, a very personalised service.

Q: What is the weirdest tattoo you’ve had to do?

A: Most clients appreciate art and choose something they find beautiful or inspirational. I would not classify any piece as “weird”, but I would say there are some very unusual or unique motivations people have to get a tattoo in the first place. Most are very personal though and I try to respect their stories.

Q: Have you done your own “dream design”?

A: My dream pieces are full-body compositions. But that “perfect” artwork is something I believe every artist is still pursuing. We are always learning and planning for the next one. Christopher Toh