Marcus Kuhn is a world renowned tattooer and painter who has been tattooing for twenty two years. He has worked in Japan with the best tattooers in Osaka and Yokohama, tattooed in Argentina and Australia, and lived and worked in Paris and London for years.

He lives in Maine and spends half of the year traveling and tattooing all around the world. Marcus was one of the original NYC tattooers in the early eighties. He worked at the original Fun City on the lower east side when it was the only street tattoo shop in NYC.

He is currently splitting his time between NYC and Maine, tattooing and creating The Gypsy Gentleman.

The Gypsy Gentleman is a series of short films chronicling the travels of the Gypsy Gentleman. A travel documentary profiling the world’s greatest tattooers and the world’s most fascinating places. Each episode will present the city that it was shot in. They will go to the streets and give you the city as it feels to them.

Marcus will be profiling one cool spot per city, a record store that sells coffee and antiques, or an Italian shoe maker in Buenos Aires that has been there for a 100 years, or a sumi shop in Kyoto that has been there 500 years.

Each episode will conclude with a feast involving all the great people who have come together for that city’s filming. The message being- human interaction is the most important point; it is that moment together that is most important. Too often we miss the real highlights of being here.

Marcus and crew are gearing up to head over for the 2012 Rites of Passage Festival and to take in the delights of Melbourne, the creative capital of Australia. oh yeah

… FROM THE TEAM AT RITES OF PASSAGE

It is a pleasure to announce that the tickets are now on sale and this year, they are much, much cheaper!

In fact we have an amazing limited early bird special until the end of January 2012. Tickets are available through Greentix click ‘here’ to purchase tickets for 2012

Keep an eye out for the first run of ROP posters for 2012 with the masterful hanya mask by Jeff Gogue.

This image leaves the Rites of Passage team astounded!

Owen Williams from Tattoo Magic in Victoria is creating the official poster for Rites of Passage Festival 2012.  This masterful piece of artwork truly encompasses everything that is ROP 2012.

Owen you’re brilliant! xx

Once again our friends of Gomineko Books will be attending Rites of Passage 2012 and we are thrilled that they will be so generously exhibiting, as part of our tattoo history museum, Japanese woodblocks from the early 1800’s and some old scrolls and a book with antiquated pictures of tattooing and original ukiyo-e and tebori tools.

Have you seen goblins and ghoulies in Japanese Art and wanted to know more about them? Here is your chance.

Gomineko Books will be conducting a fascinating seminar on Japanese yokai and mythical creatures at the 2nd Annual Rites of Passage Festival – for more detailed information email Crystal at info@gominekobooks.com

The latest in the expert line of wonderful publications from Gomineko Books is Japanese Mythical Creatures due for release in February 2012 pre orders welcome through their website GOMINEKO BOOKS.

‘We are sooooooo excited about this years Rites of Passage festival in Melbourne this coming April 27-29. Gomineko Books will be there with Horimasa Bunshin-saikian, Horikazu, Souryu, Horishin Nobu and Horiken….. going to be epic. If you are going to do one Aussie show this year, this is the one to do!’ Crystal Morey – Gomineko Books

Rites of Passage 2012 has a great line up for all of you tattoo fans,  just to give you a taste of what’s to come we are giving you a sneak preview and announcement that both the infamous Shige (Japan) and Victor Portugal (Poland) will be attending and coming to Australia for the 1st time. Returning to the annual Rites of Passage Festival is Jeff Gogue and Nick Baxter (US).

Hang out with the worlds best tattoo artists over three days of entertainment from across the globe, if you thought this years show couldn’t get any better then join us 27th, 28th & 29th April 2012 for an even cooler show.

For all of you early birds, special tickets prices of $20 a day will be available online closer to the event and then $25 on the door.

This is a show for the artists and a show for the people. The new Rites of Passage team would like to thank you all as it wouldn’t be happening without you.

Watch this space as the count down for RITES OF PASSAGE 2012 has commenced.

Dr Lars Krutak is a world renowned anthropologist, photographer and writer known for his tattoo research among different tribes around the globe. He produced and hosted the 10-part documentary series Tattoo Hunter on the Discovery Channel which traveled the indigenous world to showcase vanishing art forms of body modification.

The Rites of Passage crew are proud to announce Lars’ attendance and photographic exhibition Vanishing World at Rites of Passage 2012. Select prints from the exhibition will be available for sale and proceeds will go to Rainforest Rescue.

a three day arts, tattoo and music festival with a focus on tattoo history & culture held at the royal exhibition building carlton gardens melbourne. This will be your chance to see or be tattooed by some of the worlds respected, renowned and up-and-coming tattooists who will be show casing their artwork on living canvas.