Sara Swanson

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Queer Tattoo History / Stories

Sara Swanson collected memories of tattooing through interviews with LGBTQI+ people who got tattooed during the 1970s and 80s, and photographer Del LaGrace Volcano portrayed the storytellers. This work contains fragments of LGTBQI+ life, and as a work of memory it contributes to the writing of Swedish tattoo history.

Sara Swanson and Soledad Aznar Rodriguez opended StaDemonia Tattoo in Barcelona 2005, and since the beginning they have been searching for other LGBTQI+ tattooers, both from history and contemporary, in Spain and Sweden. They work in an industry that has slowly begun to address issues such as heterosexism and racism in the last 10 years, but that in many places still struggles with toxic culture. Since moving to Stockholm, StaDemonia Tattoo works as a platform for LGBTQI+ tattoo artists and tattoo lovers. To work LGBTQI+ separatist in who is invited to share the space professionally, is a way to give ourselves the peace and quiet to do what we love, tattooing.

Del laGrace Volcano is a legendary photographer who has depicted queer communities and life internationally for the past 50 years. Del has portrayed the LGBTQI+ people who have shared their memories. Yolanda Aurora Bohm Ramirez, who is a poet, translator and sound engineer among many other skills, has recorded sound and assisted during interviews.