Soosoo’s Tattoos Reflect Color and Film Scene Analyses

2001 a space odyssey, kubrick. Tattoo by Soosoo

From Kubrick’s classic “2001: A Space Odyssey” to Gondry’s bizarre “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind,” tattooer Soosoo analyzes particular scenes and recreates them with a fresh color palette. Her aesthetic is characterized by its meticulousness and painterly quality.
Additionally, “The Silence of the Lambs,” “Life of Pi,” and “Django Unchained” are often requested movies.

Soosoo attended college and earned a degree in visual design, as did many tattooers of the current age. In Seoul, Korea, she often depicts American and French film scenes, family portraits, beverages and cuisine, and other subjects.

Above: A scene from the “2001: A Space Odyssey” movie. 
The French film “Blue is the Warmest Color” features Lea Seydoux.

How would you describe your tattoo style and themes?

My tattoos are vibrantly colored with the texture of a colored pencil. I’ve tattooed several movie scenes and characters. And, based on the appeal of a particular film, consumers’ family photos are frequently depicted in them. I don’t want to reuse an object’s or a movie scene’s existing hue; therefore, I strive to recreate my color palette.

A preliminary painting of Kate Winslet and Jim Carrey from “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.”

But, you examine film stills and objects and color combinations that appear in those scenes. Please elaborate on your process and study.

Colors are set in various ways based on the overall composition, and the overall harmony is completed by adjusting multiple values. I chose my favorite color, began with it, and adapted it. Drawing is, of course, a part of my mind, but it’s also vital for me to express the colors I like. Blue and green are my favorites. These colors, in my opinion, complement both achromatic and colorwork. And with movie drawing, I try to add new reflective light or additional colors without losing the movie’s atmosphere. Also, brighten up dark and low-saturation scenes. I typically create designs with colored pencils, but I also digitally paint in multiple colors, present some of my favorite finished works to clients, and share them on Instagram.

The final depiction of a scene from “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” as a tattoo.

You’ve created tattoos inspired by cult and alternative films ranging from “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” (2004) to “Blue is the Warmest Color” (2013). Kindly describe these tattoo sessions, including how you adjusted the colors on actors’ faces, etc.

The movie scene where the character is centered usually depicts the character’s expression and features first. When drawing a design, the character’s skin color is laid down first, shaded with a bright color. When engraving a tattoo on the skin, I start with dark colors and then match the client’s skin. Without having to color the skin texture and background smoothly, I prefer to divide the shade into different colors and cut it into pieces. On top of that, I added a point color that accentuates the overall atmosphere.

Reinterpreting a scene’s colors from “Life of Pi.”

What are your top five aesthetically beautiful films relating to cinematography?

Fifth is “Her” (2013), a soft-toned movie with a stand-out red color. The fourth is “Moonrise Kingdom” (2012), having colors that feel like a fairy tale. The third is “Marie Antoinette” (2006), a pastel-toned that fills the screen abundantly are visually very colorful. The fourth is “Life of Pi” (2012), maximizing the color of nature, not the color made artificially; and finally, my favorite film is “Mad Max: Fury Road” (2015). In addition, I like Furiosa (Charlize Theron) from Mad Max; she demonstrates strong femininity that forges her path to survival in a harsh world.

The iconic movie poster artwork for “The Silence of the Lambs.”

Which films are often requested for tattoos by your clients?

Inquiries about various types of films are received. There have been inquiries about multiple genres of movies (including animated). Typically, clients want to get a tattoo because they are impressed by the movie’s content and characters. However, a few customers did not see the film, but they liked my design and got a tattoo.

A rough portrait of actor Jamie Foxx from the film “Django Unchained.”

Even though you have illustrated foreign movies, there is still a big chunk of American films. Are the clients asking for this? Why?

American films are the heart of the film industry, and many films of various genres are still produced. I believe that American films are appreciated because of their scale and splendor of production. And I think customers value the movie and request movie tattoos because they are impressed by the various genres and plots.

Korean tattooist Soosoo in studio.

In addition to movie interests, you enjoy photography.

Yes, I enjoy taking photographs. I recently received a camera as a birthday gift, so I always keep it and capture special moments.

Family portrait tattooed on a customer.

What camera did you receive?

A Samsung Zoom Slim (a 35mm film, second-hand camera).

Soosoo proclaims her love for the ocean.

What kind of photos do you like taking?

I now live near the sea. I usually go for a walk near my house and photograph the sea. When I travel, I take pictures of my family and friends.

Photos © Soosoo