Traces of Ink
2024
11 in. x 17 in.
Ink Jet Prints
In this photographic series, Peyton documents the interior of a tattoo shop through repeated visits, observing the space from multiple perspectives over time. Rather than focusing on the artists or clients typically associated with tattoo culture, the photographs intentionally exclude people, shifting attention to the environment itself.
By removing the human presence, the images emphasize the objects, tools, and surfaces that define the space, aka tattoo chairs, equipment, flash sheets, and worn textures that quietly record the activity that normally fills the room. The absence of people creates a sense of pause, allowing the shop to exist in a moment between use and stillness.
Through photographing the same location multiple times, Peyton approaches the tattoo shop as a site of observation, exploring how a familiar environment can reveal different details and atmospheres when viewed repeatedly. Small shifts in perspective, framing, and light highlight aspects of the space that might otherwise be overlooked.
This series reflects an interest in documenting spaces shaped by human activity while focusing on the traces that remain when people are no longer present. By isolating the physical environment of the tattoo shop, the work invites viewers to consider how objects, surfaces, and arrangements can communicate the character and energy of a place.
