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Juniper (Jun) Tattoo

@jun_ipe_r

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★ DM to book★日本語| ENG
★ 🗼東京TOKYO Jul-Sep
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★ Neo-Sumi 新水墨rooted in Asian aesthetics, expressed thru modern tattooing

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For most of my tattoo-loving years (16-now) I struggled to find work that truly reflected my sensibilities.

Not because talented artists didn’t exist, but because tattooing often felt constrained by its own traditions. Styles, rules, and expectations became gatekeepers of what was considered “good” tattooing.

Yet tattooing is, at its core, simply a medium.

Like painting, sculpture, or printmaking, its possibilities extend far beyond the categories we’ve inherited.

This is partly why I’ve begun using the term Neo-Sumi.

Inspired by my studies in Japanese sumi-e painting, Neo-Sumi is my attempt to describe an emerging tattoo sensibility: one rooted in Eastern aesthetics, yet not bound by tradition.

Flowing, elegant, and contemplative
Complex in its craftsmanship, yet refreshing to look at

A meeting point between fine art, tattooing, philosophy, and cultural memory.

Most importantly, it is not an exclusive club.

It is an invitation to artists and collectors alike to explore what tattooing can become when curiosity is valued more highly than dogma. by @jun_ipe_r

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2 months ago

Tattoos can mean different things to different people.
To me, they feel closer to pieces in a gallery. Something that quietly reflects your taste, your sensibilities, and your culture.

I’ve always loved art history, so a lot of my work is inspired by the romance of pre-modern eras. A time when symbolism wasn’t loud, but intentional and layered.

The chrysanthemum is one of those flowers.
In East Asian tradition, it represents longevity, resilience, and a kind of quiet strength. It blooms in the colder seasons, choosing its own timing rather than following the rest.

In Japan, it carries even more weight.
It’s the national flower and has long been associated with the Imperial family, representing dignity, refinement, and endurance.

I’m drawn to pieces like this. The kind that don’t reveal everything at once, but unfold over time.

What does this one feel like to you? taken in Ikebukoro Tokyo Japan by @jun_ipe_r

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3 months ago

As someone who works in both painting and tattooing, I’ve always been drawn to art forms that carry a deeper lineage.

One of the traditions that influences my work is Gongbi, a classical Chinese painting method known for its precision, discipline, and patience.

Before I ever approached skin with a machine, I spent years in my childhood learning art and art history. How images are created with intention, where every line, form, color transmitted meaning beyond the material.

When I tattoo, that mindset comes with me.

To me, tattooing isn’t just about placing a design on the body. The most meaningful tattoos carry memory, culture, and visual language that existed long before us. When an image draws from history — whether it’s classical painting traditions, symbolism, or cultural motifs — it adds another layer of depth to the piece.

The body becomes more than a canvas for decoration.
It becomes a place where art history continues to live and evolve.

I feel grateful to work in a medium where these worlds can meet —
where painting, tradition, and tattooing can all speak to each other.

If you enjoy tattoos that carry a bit of story, craft, and lineage, you’ll probably enjoy the work I’m building here. ✨
#tokyotattoo #tokyotattooartist #paintingtattoo #tattoo taken in Ikebukoro Tokyo Japan by @jun_ipe_r

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5 months ago

Before hashtags, before the algorithm decided what you saw…

How did people find tattoo artists?

You’d pick up a magazine and stumble across artists you’d never heard of, dog-ear the pages you loved, and maybe one day travel halfway across the world to get tattooed by one of them.

There was something romantic about it that scrolling can never quite replace.

So it feels pretty surreal to now be one of the artists someone might discover that way.

This feature is in the latest issue of DGN Tattoo Magazine. If you’d like to grab a copy, there’s worldwide shipping, and I’ve added the Amazon link to my Linktree.

Also, I’ll be taking part in DGN’s artist competition. Voting hasn’t opened just yet, but if you’d like to support me, keep an eye out🙂‍↕️I promise I’ll let you know as soon as it’s live. 🖤

Thank you for the pages @dgntattoomag

#tokyotattoo #japantattoo #tattoomagazine taken in Tokyo, Japan by @jun_ipe_r

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12 days ago

“The dream tattoo”. Most of us have one. Whether is a piece from artist in another country, or a daring piece that you need to work the courage for, or simply wanting your arm covered every inch.

I am honored to have been commissioned the latter.
The phoenix is the Chinese symbol for harmony, feminine strength, and prosperity. The tattoo is dedicated to the client’s mother and Chinese heritage.

Although I’m sad we weren’t able to finish in my last visit, I’m confident that I put my all into what we were able to get done.

Until next time!
#tokyotattoo #japantattoo #phoenixtattoo #tattoosleeve by @jun_ipe_r

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16 days ago

Huge thanks for @ozer.quickstencil for inviting me to join their family.
I can’t wait to bring these needles to the studio and get to work. Ozer’s needles are known to be extra tight and lasts longer, gives more saturated fill, and causes less ink congestion. If you are interested in trying their products, please give them a message! taken in Ikebukoro Tokyo Japan by @jun_ipe_r

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17 days ago

What ended up as one of the most memorable tattoos I’ve done to date has a story just as deep as it is beautiful.

The kingfisher represents memories of the client’s late mother, and could not be more appropriately placed on the aftermath of a masectomy. The breasts symbolize motherhood, and the surgery loss. The connection between the symbolic and the physical gives this project a new layer of depth.

Waitlist for Australia 🇦🇺 in bio, sign up to be notified of my next visits 🫶
Used Machine: 🖊️ Ambition (click link in bio for 10% off use code JUN at checkout)

NEO-SUMI is an artistic movement founded by Juniper that explores the evolution of traditional Asian aesthetics through contemporary forms of expression. Rooted in grace, harmony, restraint, craftsmanship, and a deep appreciation for nature, it draws inspiration from traditions such as gongbi, sumi-e, mokkotsu, and nihonga.

Rather than being defined by a specific medium, Neo-Sumi may take the form of tattooing, painting, illustration, design, or sculpture. At its core, it is not defined by technique, but by a way of seeing—one that values elegance, subtlety, and enduring beauty in a modern world. by @jun_ipe_r

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a month ago

I’m always flattered when clients travel out of their way to collect my work. This is one of my favourites so far! I love creating works that are both graceful, yet stand out amongst existing tattoos!
Few days open in August for Tokyo 🇯🇵
Waitlist for Australia 🇦🇺 in bio, sign up to be notified of my next visits 🫶
Used Machine: 🖊️ Ambition (click link in bio for 10% off use code JUN at checkout)

NEO-SUMI is an artistic movement founded by Juniper that explores the evolution of traditional Asian aesthetics through contemporary forms of expression. Rooted in grace, harmony, restraint, craftsmanship, and a deep appreciation for nature, it draws inspiration from traditions such as gongbi, sumi-e, mokkotsu, and nihonga.

Rather than being defined by a specific medium, Neo-Sumi may take the form of tattooing, painting, illustration, design, or sculpture. At its core, it is not defined by technique, but by a way of seeing—one that values elegance, subtlety, and enduring beauty in a modern world.
#tokyotattoo #sydneytattoo #melbournetattoo by @jun_ipe_r

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a month ago

Philippine blue dragonfly and blue vine in my Neo-sumi, gongbi inspired style.

Waitlist for Australia 🇦🇺 in bio, sign up to be notified of my next visits 🫶
Tokyo booking for August
Used Machine: 🖊️ Ambition (click link in bio for 10% off use code JUN at checkout)

NEO-SUMI is an artistic movement founded by Juniper that explores the evolution of traditional Asian aesthetics through contemporary forms of expression. Rooted in grace, harmony, restraint, craftsmanship, and a deep appreciation for nature, it draws inspiration from traditions such as gongbi, sumi-e, mokkotsu, and nihonga.

Rather than being defined by a specific medium, Neo-Sumi may take the form of tattooing, painting, illustration, design, or sculpture. At its core, it is not defined by technique, but by a way of seeing—one that values elegance, subtlety, and enduring beauty in a modern world. by @jun_ipe_r

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a month ago

The Pink Hyacinth Orchid, NEO-SUMI style

A design chosen to grow over old wounds…not to erase the past, but to transform it. Like the orchid itself, some of the most beautiful things emerge from what was once hidden beneath the surface.

Waitlist for Australia 🇦🇺 in bio, sign up to be notified of my future visits 🫶
Used Machine: 🖊️ Ambition (click link in bio for 10% off use code JUN at checkout)

NEO-SUMI is an artistic movement founded by Juniper that explores the evolution of traditional Asian aesthetics through contemporary forms of expression. Rooted in grace, harmony, restraint, craftsmanship, and a deep appreciation for nature, it draws inspiration from traditions such as gongbi, sumi-e, mokkotsu, and nihonga.

Rather than being defined by a specific medium, Neo-Sumi may take the form of tattooing, painting, illustration, design, or sculpture. At its core, it is not defined by technique, but by a way of seeing—one that values elegance, subtlety, and enduring beauty in a modern world.

#tokyotattoo #melbournetattoo #sydneytattoo taken in Tokyo, Japan by @jun_ipe_r

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2 months ago

Zach explores his mixed Chinese heritage through a beautiful sprig of plum blossoms in Neo-Sumi gongbi style. I had suggested the gold edge to give the effect of gold lining and make it pop extra ✨

Waitlist for Australia 🇦🇺 in bio, sign up to be notified of my next visits 🫶
Used Machine: 🖊️ Ambition (click link in bio for 10% off use code JUN at checkout)

NEO-SUMI is an artistic movement founded by Juniper that explores the evolution of traditional Asian aesthetics through contemporary forms of expression. Rooted in grace, harmony, restraint, craftsmanship, and a deep appreciation for nature, it draws inspiration from traditions such as gongbi, sumi-e, mokkotsu, and nihonga.

Rather than being defined by a specific medium, Neo-Sumi may take the form of tattooing, painting, illustration, design, or sculpture. At its core, it is not defined by technique, but by a way of seeing—one that values elegance, subtlety, and enduring beauty in a modern world. by @jun_ipe_r

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a month ago

Not all artworks hang on gallery walls.

Sometimes they come in the form of a silicone arm, wandering through a Japanese garden and causing mild public concern.

I photographed this piece beneath the yaezakura blooms in April. There was something deeply satisfying about seeing the work surrounded by flowers; the same sense of grace, movement, and quiet presence that I hope to capture in my tattoos.

When I create a piece, I am not only thinking about how it will look today, but how it will grow with its wearer. How it would stand gracefully alongside the nature that inspires it.

For those interested in creating something similar together, my books are open in Japan and occasionally Australia

Photography credit @_renphoto_
🌸 taken in Shinjuku Tokyo Japan by @jun_ipe_r

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2 months ago