Black belt in ink-slinging

Contortionist-turned-Japanese-tattoo-artist Jill Bonny gained a new art form — and a new name

By Selena Fragassi
Published: August 15th, 2008 | 3:00pm

For tattoo artist and author Jill Mandelbaum, a birth name is far too ordinary to put on a business card. Instead, this San Jose transplant is more widely known to her customers at State of Grace Tattoos by her public persona, Jill Bonny, or the less-familiar Sarka, a character name from a college-era stint as a contortionist in a sideshow variety act.

But still, Bonny says one of her names trumps all others: Horiyuki. It is the name she was baptized with on her 28th birthday by her mentor, Horitaka — an apprentice to the legendary Horiyoshi III. In Japanese, “Hori” is the black belt of tattooist titles and translates to “engrave.” Few are given this honorary distinction, and Bonny is the only non-Japanese woman to hold it, she told me during a recent conversation.

Can you explain how you came to be named Horiyuki?
In the years we have spent working together, Horitaka has continuously pushed me artistically and motivated me. On my 28th birthday, he had decided I was ready to have a Japanese working title and explained that Horiyoshi III wanted to do the honors. Because I do not have a Japanese birth name to use, he conceived of the name by using my birth year. I was born in year of the snake, and the god associated with my birth year is Fugen Bosatsu. An alternate reading of the god’s name in Japanese is “Yuki”. Yuki is a beautiful female name that also means “snow.” There is a sense of humor in that Horitaka believes I am the only non-Japanese woman to have ever received a title from a tattoo master in Japan. I take the honor of my name very seriously and, as Horitaka predicted, have more profoundly dedicated myself to Japanese-style tattooing since receiving the title.

How did you first come to be interested in the Japanese tattooing style?
I began tattooing while attending art school in Manhattan. I was studying Buddhist art history while familiarizing myself with the various disciplines in tattooing. I was immediately attracted to the Japanese style, and the first tattoos I received were performed by a formally-trained Japanese artist named Kazz in New York.

What was your first tattoo?
My first tattoo was a snake with sakura. The snake has a scroll in its mouth bearing the name of the god Fugen Bosatsu. It starts near my armpit and ends below my butt.

Explain how Japanese culture affects your art. Are Japanese-style tattoos the only ones you create?
I respect all styles of tattooing but I mainly do Japanese style tattoos. Japanese culture is embedded in Japanese style tattooing. Visiting Horiyoshi III and Japan [have been] major influences in my work.

What is your background in art? Where did you study?
I have a Bachelor of Fine Arts from The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art in New York City. During my time there I focused on photography and painting. When I graduated in 1999, I was already tattooing professionally.

I’ve heard that during this time you performed in a sideshow act called the Painproof Rubber Girls. What were your specialties?
I supported myself through college performing as a contortionist with my partner Amanda Topaz. We also worked at the Coney Island Circus Sideshow and integrated many sideshow acts, such as the bed of nails and walking on broken glass into our circus act. She still works as an aerialist in New York City.

Who do you see more in your clientele — guys or girls? What are the differences in what they chose to have on their bodies?
I always give priority in my schedule to women getting large-scale pieces, so I have a lot of female clients. I do a lot of Koi [fish], phoenix, tigers, and Japanese flowers on men and women.

How do you feel about fellow women artists in your field — do you feel they have been underexposed or overexposed?
I have never identified as a specifically female tattoo artist, I see myself more simply as “a tattoo artist.” I measure men and women equally in my industry and do not see a reason for segregation.

Do you have plans to own your own shop? Where do you think your career is headed?
I am happy to be working with Horitaka, Horitomo, and Horisou at State of Grace. I am working on another book right now, and I am always studying Japanese art and trying to evolve my tattooing.

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Learn more about Jill Bonny and her work by visiting the following sites:

www.horiyukitattoo.com
www.stateofgracetattoo.com
www.schifferbooks.com