#97: A Body of Work: The Matt Jordan Episode

In this episode, host Aaron Della Vedova delves into the importance of creating art for oneself rather than for external approval, highlighting the personal connection and significance behind each piece of work. The discussion with New Zealand-based tattoo artist Matt Jordan emphasizes the value of handmade artistry in an increasingly digital world, celebrating the unique and analog nature of tattooing. Matt is a phenomenal tattoo artist whose work has left a lasting impression on many.

"What are you going to do to separate yourself? What are you going to do so that you can look at your work and be like, yeah, that's fucking, I love that."

This statement underscores the idea that true satisfaction in art comes from creating something meaningful to the artist. When artists focus on their own beliefs and values, they produce work that reflects their unique perspectives, resulting in a sense of pride and ownership.

Tune in for a deep dive into the passion and dedication that fuels the tattooing craft, and discover how personal expression can lead to a renaissance in creativity.

Chat Highlights:

[00:01:05] Art made by hand.

[00:04:18] Tattooing legacy and personal journey.

[00:09:01] Passion for tattooing journey.

[00:15:54] Learning through mentorship moments.

[00:24:58] Learning how to refine art.

[00:29:05] Quitting tattooing for painting.

[00:40:00] Creative transition in tattooing.

[00:44:25] Tattoos as fine art.

[00:50:00] Tattoo exhibition and photography.

[01:03:47] Family-infused tattoo experience.

[01:09:37] Tattooing as a rite of passage.

[01:13:00] Pushing creative boundaries in tattooing.

Quotes:

"I think if more people can realize that, like this is our renaissance, you know?"

"I wanted to feel like a real artist, you know, because people were like, oh, you know, it's just tattoos."

"Art was the ability to create something novel, to use your imagination to create something that maybe people haven't seen before."

"I'm just doing it. I'm just actually fucking putting my phone down and trying."

"You can only give people what you have. If you're not inspired, you're not going to inspire anybody, you know?"

"I just fucking ran with it and it snowballed and changed over the past decade."

"If you treat it anything less than that, you need to fucking re-evaluate."

"My goal is like, is how far can I push this? What's possible? And I wanna see how far I can go."

Stay Connect

ed:

Chats & Tatts:

Website: http://www.chatsandtatts.com⁠

Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@chatsandtatts

IG: http://www.instagram.com/chatsandtatts

Chats & Tatts YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/chatsandtatts

Connect with Aaron:⁠

Aaron IG:⁠ http://www.instagram.com/aarondellavedova⁠

Guru Tattoo: http://www.Gurutattoo.com

Connect with Matt:

IG:https://www.instagram.com/mattjordantattoo/