Calling himself “Greed,” a name representing his strong drive to succeed. He sees this force positively. While moderation matters, he and many creatives neglect it in their pursuit of perfection and continual improvement. Greed tends to be quiet, except when discussing something he cares about. Tattooing is one such topic. He began working as a […]
Category: Art
ShiRyu’s Tattooing: A Revolution in Style, Color, and Flow
Look at this masterpiece and let your mind absorb it. ShiRyu’s large-scale projects are notable for their mesmerizing and refreshing style. At 36, SeongBeom Kwon, known as ShiRyu, is a tattooist who keeps his professional and personal lives separate. He approaches his art through creativity, intensity, and a perfectionist’s eye. Outside of work, he is […]
Get to Know Shane Tan Through Q&As with Renowned Tattooers
Step into Shane Tan’s studio, where Japanese art covers many walls. Shane Tan, 41, has devoted 25 years to tattooing and owns Feather Cloud parlor in Singapore. Known for his bodysuit projects and disciplined color palette, he compiled his artwork in the Kintaro publication and shared inspirations in a 2021 Scene360 interview. To further illuminate […]
The Enchanting Tattoos of Ulises Gonzalez Based on Textiles and Past Eras
A tattoo depicting Saint Michael slaying the devil (embodied as a dragon) in a scene reminiscent of the Mexican Novohispanic and Cuzco style (16th to 18th centuries in Peru). Ulises González came into this world in 1994 in the municipality of Ecatepec de Morelos, north of Greater Mexico City. He grew up with his grandmother […]
Body Armor: Undulmood’s Ornamental Tattoos
In seven 6-hour sessions, create a torso piece inspired by traditional Japanese tattooing, leaving a portion of the chest untattooed (known as Munewari). Undulmood describes himself as “Passionate.” His real name is Jihoon Choi. Originating from South Korea and relocating to Germany at 20, to take up industrial design studies. Yet, he changed his mind […]
Modern Art Inspires XAMO’s Doodly Tattoos
This is “TYPE 01 / Blue Dragon,” one of the larger works by XAMO. This 29-year-old Seoul native goes by the name XAMO (pronounced “SAME-O”). He is trilingual (French, English, and Korean) and majored in French language and literature at Gachon University in 2014. His time spent working and living in Europe, particularly Paris, provided […]
Conversation with Xéu on Reclaiming the Roots of Tattooing
A tattoo flash by Xéu, with its illustrative figure and backdrop, seems to be a nod to Art Nouveau. Michele “Xéu” Jean Leite spent part of her youth in Montreal, Québec, although she was born in Cambridge, Ontario, Canada, in 1981. When she was eleven years old, her parents, who were Portuguese immigrants, returned to […]
Meet Javier Rivera, also known as “Ché,” the Tattooist
Tattooer Ché works in his atelier, Isan, in Puerto Rico. Javier “Ché” Rivera, a 1979-born Puerto Rican native, owns the private studio Isan in Santurce, San Juan. Operating under the Instagram handle @tattoosbyche, he has broadened his tattoo career over the years and currently divides his life between the island and the mainland of the […]
Honoring Swasthik Iyengar’s Hindu Heritage through Tattoos
Swasthik Iyengar’s beloved Indian clients get Kolam tattoos to connect with their ancestors and land. Swasthik Iyengar (aka Gunga Ma) was born in 1987 in Tamil Nadu, India’s southernmost state. Her grandmother did Stick-and-Poke tattoos, among other jobs in her native country. Iyengar’s father wanted her to become a doctor or an engineer, but she […]
Exploring Nonlee’s Dazzling and Multicolored Tattoos
Kim Jungyeon was born in 1993 in Guri, a small city near Seoul. She developed an interest in the arts at a tender age and ultimately earned a degree in sculpture from Ewha Womans University (in 2016), one of the largest universities in South Korea and one of the world’s most prominent female educational institutes. […]