Exploring Tattoo Culture in Ghana Through the Eyes of a Talented Artist
By Karel Mensah
Tattoos push a boundary. Through the tattooing process, people become inseparable from the art that they connect with. If you’re a tattoo enthusiast in another country, it becomes another special way to mark the trip and if you’re a tourist visiting Ghana, you can get pieces here that you’ll easily grow to love and treasure.
There are plenty of artists here doing amazing tattoo work. If you’re planning to visit, you’ll appreciate this look at the tattoo scene through the eyes of one of our talented artists, Anthony, owner of the Ashenso Tattoos studio in Accra.
Putting the Art in Tattoo Artist
Anthony Jefferson Hanson has been an artist from a young age. By the time he was in high school, the pieces that he drew made it too obvious that he was the art. After high school, he was introduced to tattoo machines. He discovered the instrument used to draw art onto people’s skin. Once he became confident with the tattoo machine, Anthony moved to Accra, the capital.
Anthony's work spoke for itself. “I am not an artist. Art is me,” he says. He was soon on talk shows on local channels and one of the media’s favorites. He’s also drawn tattoos and painted canvases for celebrities locally and internationally. Tattoos aside, Anthony wants to draw attention to his paintings, which are no less incredible.
Your Ideas Are Welcome
When it comes to the types of tattoos Anthony is good at, it’s not disingenuous to say that he’s good at most of them, including custom requests. All of the work that you’ll find on his Instagram page is extraordinary. However, Anthony himself believes that he does his best work in portraits, figurative drawings, and in drawing people and animals. He can also do Adinkra tattoos, which are symbols in Ghanaian culture that represent different concepts and proverbs.
Safety is a Priority
Obviously, one of the major concerns when it comes to getting a tattoo is how safe the process is. There is a real chance of a bacterial infection if the proper safety measures aren’t followed by a tattoo artist. Anthony is very intentional about protecting himself and his clients.
Safety precautions entail keeping the studio tidy and making sure that other basic regulations are met. An example of that is always making sure to break the blister packs that contain new needles in front of the client. These packs also have their expiry dates printed on them.
He makes sure that the right antibacterial cleaning is used, he has a preference for disposables when it comes to gloves and other materials, and his machine cables are always wrapped in fresh rubber.
When it comes to the tattoo experience with Anthony, he believes that everyone should walk away happy. The inking process itself aside, Anthony tries to be as down-to-earth as possible in order to create a space where he’s sure that his clients will feel comfortable.
If you’re looking to reach Anthony, his Instagram dm’s are open: @Ashenso_gh.
