Ink/Piercing Shop

Soul Survivors

Daniel Crump

1. Soul Survivors
2. Rebel Waltz
3. YOLO

“Ground control to Major Tom”…

An eccentric playlist of varying musical genres fills the waiting area of Soul Survivors. The Osborne Village shop has just opened for the day, but already customers are pouring in and the phone won’t stop ringing. Eric Johanson, owner of the 13 year old shop, greets me with a friendly hello and a heavily tattooed handshake.

Stepping into one of their immaculately clean tattoo/piercing rooms, the chaos of the main area seems worlds away. We talk about tattoo reality shows and how they have changed the way that people look at body modification. “I’ve been working in the Village 20 years, and tattoos have become- here is a quote you can use- way more ingrained in the fabric of society.” While now it seems normal for coffee shop employees to have an “edgier” look, it used to be impossible to get a job even with something as innocuous as a nose ring.

Although body mods have become more socially acceptable, Johanson says he will still refuse certain looks to those who may not spend all their time living left of centre. “If you came in and asked for a neck tattoo, I’d say no. You’re young and you don’t know what you’ll be doing in 10 years. Something you can’t hide can still limit your job options and change how people perceive you.” At Soul Survivors, you can expect this kind of thought and consideration from any of the artists they employ. “We are an art collective. The faces may change, but the name Soul Survivors is a point of standard, not just in Winnipeg but in Canada. That isn’t ego talking. I have less ego as I get older, I just love what I do.”

Part of the series: The Uniter 30

Published in Volume 68, Number 14 of The Uniter (December 4, 2013)

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