(Photo: Amin Nipen Gets Tattooed, Andrew Gregg)

by Andrew Gregg

Chris Rainier is one of the world’s best photographers, according to me and some other people I’ve heard of. I’ve been trying for a few years now to sell a documentary film on Chris and we finally got some broadcasters on board  so we jetted off to Indonesia last month.

Chris has spent the better part of the last 15 years searching out and photographing the world’s tattooing cultures, indigenous and otherwise (check out this link to his portfolio, Ancient Marks, which includes an array of body-mod images, from Yakuza mistresses to African tribal). His last, best place for tattoos was on the island of Siberut, six hours by boat from the west coast of Sumatra, then another six hours up river in a motorized dugout canoe.

The Mentawai people are among the world’s oldest and most traditional tattooing cultures, and we spent two weeks with them—and Chris. We just got home last weekend. The film is still in production, but here is a sneak peak of the trip. My photos aren’t as good as Chris’, but then again, no one’s are…

Tattoo artist tapping

Close-up of nail used.

Amin Nipen’s finished tat.

Terocha makes a bracelet.

Sharp teeth and tattoos.

Kids take pictures with rocks.