Aztec Tattoo Artist Uses Ink to Honor Ancestors

VICE7 minutes read

Salvador Cortez Jr., also known as Chamuco, runs Amor Eterno, a tattoo shop in Oakland, where he sees tattoo art as a healing form of medicine and a way to connect with ancestors. Clients like Reuben receive meaningful tattoos like "Mictlān's Garden," reflecting their ancestral roots and honoring lost loved ones, with Salvador emphasizing deep conversations to ensure authenticity.

Insights

  • Salvador Cortez Jr., aka Chamuco, operates Amor Eterno, a tattoo shop in Oakland, emphasizing the healing power of tattoo art as a form of ancestral connection and remembrance.
  • Through personalized tattoos like "Mictlān's Garden," clients like Reuben engage in deep conversations to honor lost loved ones authentically, highlighting the ritualistic and communicative nature of tattooing in marginalized communities like Chicanos.

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Recent questions

  • What is Amor Eterno?

    A tattoo shop in Oakland, California.

  • Who is Salvador Cortez Jr.?

    Also known as Chamuco.

  • What is the significance of "Mictlān's Garden"?

    Honors lost loved ones.

  • How does Salvador Cortez Jr. view tattooing?

    As a ritual and communication with ancestors.

  • What sets Amor Eterno apart from traditional tattoo environments?

    Focus on healing and ancestral connections.

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Summary

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Healing Tattoos: Connecting Ancestral Roots in Oakland

  • Salvador Cortez Jr., also known as Chamuco, operates Amor Eterno, a community-supported tattoo shop in Oakland, California.
  • He emphasizes the healing aspect of tattoo art, viewing it as medicine whether on skin or walls.
  • Starting his career in a toxic and closed-door tattoo environment, Salvador now focuses on connecting clients with their ancestors through personalized artwork.
  • Clients like Reuben sit for hours to receive meaningful tattoos, such as "Mictlān's Garden," honoring lost loved ones.
  • Salvador's approach involves deep conversations with clients to ensure the tattoo reflects their ancestral connections authentically.
  • He views tattooing as a ritual, a form of communication with ancestors, and a way to remember and honor one's roots, especially for marginalized communities like Chicanos.
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