At just nine years old, Napat Mitmakorn is making a significant impression in the tattoo world. Known by his nickname “Knight,” the young artist demonstrated his skills at the Thailand Tattoo Expo, where he meticulously inked a fanged serpent onto a man’s upper thigh. Despite his small hands, swathed in surgical gloves, Knight wielded the tattoo gun with impressive precision, drawing a captivated crowd.
“I want to be a tattoo artist and open my own tattoo parlour,” Knight told AFP from his booth, where intrigued onlookers filmed his work. “I like art, so I like to tattoo.”
Tattooing, an ancient and deeply rooted tradition in Thailand, spans designs from spiritual to contemporary. While many Thai tattoo parlours are busy with customers, Knight’s presence at the expo was a unique moment that drew widespread attention, as he is one of the youngest tattoo artists to showcase his talents publicly.
Knight’s father, Nattawut Sangtong, 38, who works at a block printing factory and is an amateur tattooist, explained that he introduced his son to the craft to steer him away from the distractions of modern childhood. “I just wanted to keep him away from his phone because he was addicted to gaming and had a short attention span,” Nattawut said.
Father and son learned tattooing together through TikTok tutorials, practicing on paper before progressing to artificial leather that mimicked human skin. Over time, Knight developed his skills and now works on live clients, with his father coaching him in two-hour sessions three times a week. Nattawut likened tattooing to a form of meditation. “It’s not just tattooing; it’s like meditation,” he said.
The duo runs a TikTok channel, “The Tattoo Artist with Milk Teeth,” where they livestream Knight’s sessions. Some clips have drawn hundreds of thousands of viewers, further boosting the young artist’s growing following.
At the Thailand Tattoo Expo, Knight’s public debut saw him tattooing his uncle for the second time. This time, he inked an intricate 20-centimetre-long mythical Naga serpent, a creature from Hindu and Thai folklore. Despite the loud techno music blasting from massive speakers, Knight remained focused, estimating the piece would take 12 hours to complete.
For now, Knight works only on family and friends, with his father ensuring that the proper hygiene protocols are followed before expanding to public clients. “Opening up to public clients would require more rigorous hygiene training,” Nattawut explained.
His uncle, Naruebet Chonlatachaisit, who was getting the tattoo, expressed complete trust in Knight’s abilities. “I trust him, and I think he’ll only improve,” he said as the design took shape on his left leg.
Among the nearly 200 artists at the Expo, Knight drew the most attention. Visitors, including office worker Napat Muangsawang, marveled at his ability. “It’s quite amazing. Tattooing isn’t easy,” Muangsawang said. “It’s not like drawing on paper where you can just erase it.”
Knight’s skillful approach and growing online presence suggest that this young tattoo artist may soon be making a lasting mark in the tattoo industry.
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