A Man, His Ink and a Pulsing Canvas

Gathu the Madkid is one of Kenya's pioneering tattoo artists, a career which began informally from the encouragement of his friends who saw how well he could sketch and draw. That playful jostling from his friends grew into a 15-year career in which he developed a signature style - African tribal tattoos.

We meet Gathu the Madkid at his private studio in Golf Course Estate in Ngumo, a cozy space in which artwork, which we later find out is his, hangs on the walls. A black leather couch demarcates the living area from the studio which opens up to a small lawn.

Gathu speaks softly, appearing shy at first and brief with his responses before getting animated the more we delve into his work. He is completely self -taught, he tells us, and started by drawing on his own skin and that of friends from the neighborhood.

From his studio, one can tell he is a methodical artist - nothing is out of place, and even his dog, Boris appears to respect the sanctity of the space, never venturing into the studio space the entire time we were there. He works by appointment only, taking time to fully understand his client's vision before transferring the final image onto the skin.

Gathu's skillset is diverse, ranging from black work and tribal tattoos to portraiture. However, his favorite form of tattoos are the ones he does free-hand as they allow him to work with the flow of the body.

For a person who dabbles in artwork of such permanence, his outlook on tattoos is a bit laid back. His number one piece of advice to first-timers is to avoid attaching a great amount of significance to a tattoo. "It's important to have a vison if you are planning to get multiple tattoos so that the patchwork has harmony. But something that is of significance to you now may not hold the same level of importance ten or fifteen years later. I like to think of tattoos as little bookmarks in your life. That is why I don't regret any of my tattoos. Sure, there are some that could have been better than others but there is a nostalgia that comes with looking at my tattoos and recalling my thought-process at that time."

So what keeps him going?

His clients. "Every piece is a progression from the last one because of my clients. They come up with dope ideas which make me proud of my work when I see the final product."

His tips for getting a great tattoo?

Do your research and learn the style of the artists and their level of hygiene.

Get your tattoo sober. Drugs do not ease the pain of the process.

The healing process of a tattoo is seamless. It should peel off from your skin without scabbing.

If the tattoo is too painful or too bloody while you are getting it, it is a worrying sign and you should probably stop the artist and have a chat with him/her.