Tag: South Korea

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Interview with tattoo artist Swani

Tattooist Swani (@swanissober) tattoos at @mizangwon in Seoul, South Korea. We chatted to the artist about his impresive tattoo collection, one tone tattoos and where he draws his inspiration…

How long have you been a tattoo artist and how did you get into the industry? I’ve been tattooing since 2015. I studied at a french art school until 2014, then I decided to go back to Korea to learn the tattooing techniques there. I asked a studio if they could teach and they did, I started learning the skills I needed to tattoo.

The first four years were a very difficult time, but now there are customers who want my tattoos and I think I’m completely indulged in this industry.

Do you have a background in art? My background is in ceramics and patterns as well as oreintal painting. It’s important to know about my background for my art but it’s more important that I studied the basics to develop my own style and perception.

What inspires you? I’m more inspired by the colour combination of real ceramic patterns than by any painting or photograph. I also like tile art and my favorite artist is Owen Jones. In fact, I get a lot of inspiration from real life objects rather than just getting inspiration from pictures.

I often refer to oriental paintings of the past and try to get more inspiration from traditional art rather than modern art. Saying that I’m trying not to get too swept away by the typical representatives of Asian cultures, like Chinese and Japanese art, because I identity as a Korean national. 

Why did you want to become a tattooist? In my early 20s, I went to art school in France. It was during that time that I started to get interested in tattoo culture.

There are so many methods to express art. Among the many ways to express art, I was very interested in how art could be expressed on our skin. 

But, also I was very attracted to the fact that it can be alive and also perish with the person. If I get to see my own art somewhere on someone again someday then I will feel such an indescribable feeling – it’s why I started tattooing.

How would you describe your style of work? Personally I wouldn’t say that what I’m doing right now is my definite style. I’m just a tattooist who’s inspired by and uses oriental styles as my material to create my own art pieces, because they’re beautiful to me.

Being inspired by this art form got me thinking about putting blue patterns onto skin, just like those asian ceramic pieces. When I was starting to use blue ink, some of my customers were a bit afraid to get them all in blue, because it wasn’t the standard for oriental tattoos. 

Currently, I’m thinking a lot and studying how I can express this art style in my own way and I want to work on bigger pieces with larger scales. 

Has your work evolved since you started tattooing? I’ve tried so many tattoo genres, at one point I thought it was important to only do what I liked and I could design myself. So, I thought long and hard about what I liked, and when I found it, I’m able to express my identity through it. I studied ceramics at college and I want to get deeper into this area at the moment and incorporate it into my tattoos.

In terms of tattoo skills, I have been using the basic skills and techniques I’ve learnt in my career so far. However, I want to create more colour combinations and use skills that can show more of my potential and creativity.

What attracted you to creating tattoos in one colour? Actually, I don’t think tattoos are beautiful if the colour combination feels wrong. So I started using blue tones because my art is based on ceramic arts and sometimes I think one tone gives more of a clean and better look. But I want to continue to create more of my own colour combinations.

Can you tell us about the process behind your pieces? First of all, I usually work with a custom design. In some cases, customers bring me designs, but usually I change the design to fit with my own style while maintaining the original design that they requested. 

If the sessions are too long and there will be too many, I think I get tired and the customers tend to get tired too. Therefore, in the case of large pieces I try to shorten the sessions as much as possible and have them on different days.

Usually, the design is prepared before we begin the tattoo session. But, sometimes it is fun and spontaneous both for me and the customer to suddenly change it or add extra details. 

What’s your favourite subject to tattoo and what would you like to do more of? I like to tattoo things that present balance in an artistic form and I like things that are symmetrical. Sometimes clients come to me with  good ideas that I didn’t even think of before which I love.

In addition to these predetermined materials, I like to draw oriental style women. I also like to paint especially when it’s not for a tattoo design.

What’s the tattoo scene like where you are? This is a very sensitive subject, as there are no laws about tattoos in Korea. So, we are virtually unemployed. In fact, there aren’t many problems these days, but I am always anxious because I work without any legal protection.

I hope that Korea will legalise tattoos and appreciate the art form as soon as possible.

Do you have any guest spots or travel planned? This year I’m going to work in Paris and London for a while. I have good friends who I met while working as there and I plan to visit them regularly.

Can you tell us about your own tattoo collection? Are you a collector and do you have any future tattoo plans? Actually, I really like getting tattoos and I have a lot of tattoos on my body. It’s hard to mention all of them, but some of my favourite works are by @ssamu_tt_, which is a tattoo based on Buddhist tatu. I also have blackwork by my good friends @delphinmusquet, @mattchaos_tt and @jaffawane.

I have a handpoke tattoo by @git__b as well as my right arm sleeve by @brownpeanut. I got my whole back handpoked with the help of @imgonnahurtyoubaby. I’ve also got some work by @pittakkm on my arm and my neck is by @sou.ttt.

The list is too long for me to mention all the amazing artists that I have had the pleasure to get their art, but I am extremely grateful for them. I plan to get my next tattoos from @ogitattooer, @rodrigosalcedo.v, @lifo_art and@n.o.u.v.e.a.u.

It hurts a lot to get a tattoo, but I’m going to get more as a historical record.

What’s been your proudest moment in your career so far? I got to meet so many good people at the end of last year, as I had the chance to participate in a seminar hosted by @q_tattoos. It was an opportunity to talk about tattoos and get deeper in the art form itself in front of 80 people who were also tattoo artists. I personally think it was the best way to end the year.

I was under a lot of stress and I was able to finish it with a lot of hard work. I was extremely proud of myself and our team at that moment and I hope to get more chances to share my experience with new tattoo artists in the future . 

What do you do when you’re not tattooing? Usually, when I’m not tattooing I draw and finish things I don’t always get time to do, like answering emails. Sometimes I meet my friends or girlfriend but usually I prefer to stay at home on my days off. I want to fully rest on my days off because I spend a lot of my energy working and tattooing.

Where do you see yourself in five years? I think I’ll become an artist who does art with more depth. And in five years, I think I can combine other areas of my art with tattoos. Whether I achieve my goals or not I will always be satisfied with my career and the fact that my art is loved and wanted by people all around the world. That is the ultimate goal which I have already accomplished. 

Follow Swani for more amazing tattoos and travel plans.

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Interview with tattoo artist Pokhy

Tattooist Pokhy owns a private studio in Seoul, South Korea. We chatted to the tattooer about what tattooing means to her, the beautiful blue tattoos she makes and her favourite tattoo experience…

How long have you been a tattoo artist, how did you get into the industry? I’ve been a tattooist for five years now. Before I was a tattooer, I worked as a graphic designer for seven years.

I took a break from my work as continuously working overtime meant that both my work and my health were deteriorating.

During my career break, I had the chance to learn tattooing and experience tattoos for the first time. 

Why did you want to become a tattooist? I have always been deeply inspired by the art that lasts on the body forever, rathert than computer graphics or design and so, I decided to become a tattoo artist.

In an era where all media is consumed quickly, art that remains forever is very attractive.

How would you describe your style of work? I usually use thin needles to create my tattoos. The style of tattoos that I make have fine details and vibrant colours.

Most of my tattoos are of natural objects, and these days I’m working on a lot of nature inspires pieces that mainly use blue ink.

Does your heritage or where you live influence your art? My mom likes to do small amounts of gardening at home. So, my house is always full of many plants and flowers. I have a natural affinity for plants and I love to draw them.

What attracted you to colour tattoos, in particular blue in? I simply love blue.

What’s your favourite subject to tattoo and what would you like to do more of? I like tattoos that flow along the shape of the body. For example, I like free-form natural objects such as the tentacles of jellyfish and the stems of long petals.

I want to try a large tattoo that covers the entire back or wraps around the entire leg.

What’s the tattoo scene like where you are? Korea has not yet recognised tattooing as a profession. It is illegal for tattoo artists to do tattoos. That’s why so many talented tattooists are working abroad.

The number of people getting tattoos is increasing, but the legal system is still in the past. I’m hoping for a gradual change. Although tattooists are not protected by law, the consciousness of the country’s citizens is gradually improving due to the popularisation of tattoos.

There are so many talented tattoo artists in Korea. The day will come when they are recognised.

Do you have any guest spots or travelling planned? I plan work in Australia next year and then work in the US.

Can you tell us about your own tattoo collection? Are you a collector and do you have any future tattoo plans? It’s a collection of my favourite things. I have tattoos of my pet, life’s motto, so many colours, favourite flowers, my religion and so on. It’s like my personal diary.

What’s been your proudest moment in your career so far? I received a letter from one of my clients, I had covered up some old scars with my artwork. She told me that her heart warms whenever she sees my tattoo and that she gains strength to continue to live in this world by looking at her beautiful tattoo rather than painful memories.

That letter was more valuable than winning any contest or any amount of money.

What do you do when you’re not tattooing? I do indoor rock climbing as a hobby. And I spend some time resting with my lovely cats.

Where do you see yourself in five years? The most famous tattooist in Korea.

We love Pokhy’s ambition, be sure to follow @pokhy_tattoo for more beautiful blue tattoos.

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Interview with tattoo artist: Dino

Tattooist @dino_oriental creates striking blackwork tattoos with red constrasts at @10kf_Hollywood in Los Angeles, CA. We chatted to the artist about his recognisable style, journey into the industry and plans for the future…

How long have you been a tattoo artist, how did you get into the industry and why did you want to become one? I have been making tattoos for about eight years. I was a professional Korean soccer player before I became a tattoo artist.

Unfortunately, I had to have six surgeries on my left ankle which meant I couldn’t play soccer any more. I should have had a back up career ready but I found my second career a little later.

I have liked getting tattooed since I was young and my favourite soccer player, who played for Liverpool in the English Premier League, became a tattoo artist. Seeing this I became motivated to emulate his life and career, I then chose a job as a tattoo artist for my second life. So, I studied, watched YouTube videos, searched the internet, bought machines and supplies, and started my second life as a tattoo artist.

How would you describe your style of work? All of my designs are based on the traditional Japanese painting ‘Ukiyo-e’. Many of these traditional paintings resemble and feature legends and historical stories, which is why I get a lot of my inspiration from these traditional paintings.

I also like pictures that have a strong contrast. That’s why I usually use red colour ink to create a strong contrast between the black and red. I try to create a beautiful and strong atmosphere by using brush lines accompanied by many other lines. This helps to create a classic yet sophisticated feeling in my work.

Does your Korean heritage influence your art? I mainly do traditional Japanese style tattoos, but I get a lot of inspiration from Korean history and paintings. Japan and Korea have a similar history. Sometimes I get some of my ideas from traditional Korean paintings and study how the paint works.

When I lived in Korea I visited Korean temples; each temple has various traditional murals and I found inspiration in them. As I said above, most of my designs are based on the traditional Japanese painting Ukiyo-e, but I can also get a lot of inspiration and ideas from Korean heritage.

You typically tattoo in black and red ink, can you tell us more about this? I like art to have astrong contrast. A few years ago I went to the London Tattoo Convention to study the work of other artists. Looking at the body suit contest I spotted one model in particular who was tattooed in a style I liked the most and wanted to create. The tattoo had a very strong contrast, and it was very clear and intense even from a distance.

So, I tried to find a way that I could make this kind of contrast my tattooing style. I wanted to make it beautiful so choose red as I think it’s a beautiful and intense colour. I also like using the red to create a strong contrast, intensity and beauty when it harmonises with black.

What’s your favourite subject to tattoo and what would you like to do more of? I like to tattoo dragons the most. Although sometimes when I tattoo the dragon’s shadow the scales drive me crazy or I feel bored as I have to make hundreds of scales. But the sense of accomplishment and the look of the design is ultimately really cool and beautiful.

Also dragons are interesting to learn about, I like finding different styles of dragons. They’re mythical, legendary animals whose appearance is individual to the East or West or even each artist. I want to make my own style of dragon to feature on murals, bowls, clothes etc.

What’s the tattoo scene like in LA? I’m living a very satisfying life here, making tattoos for now. There are so many artists and special and unique people in LA. As such, there are a lot of tattoo shops, and there are great artists in various tattooing categories. Everyone likes to enjoy the tattooed life, it allows them to express their indivulaity and capture precious moments and things on their bodies.

There are people from different countries here which makes for fun tattoo projects. While talking to them, I learn their country’s culture and I can make tattoos that resemble their meanings for them. A project that starts with new people and people who like my work, always makes me excited and happy.

Do you have any guest spots or travelling planned? My plans start with the Philadelphia Convention in January. I then have plans to tour Asia in March, New York in May and Europe in July and September. I’ll be at conventions and doing guest spots.

I haven’t been able to travel as much as I would have liked, so I’m keen to get travelling again. It’s a good challenge in my career and allows me to create interesting prjects with lots of different people.

Can you tell us about your own tattoo collection? Are you a collector and do you have any future tattoo plans? I have tattoos almost all over my body, but I got most of my tattoos from my tattoo artist friends, my wife and I did some myself. 

My legs have a lot of cover-up tattoos because while I was learning to tattoo I tried various designs on myself. I also have a lot of blackwork on my upper body as I did blackwork style tattoos being I did traditional Japanese tattooing.

I have got a lot of my tattoos from my Korean friends and friends I have met while travelling. They’re all precious to me. In fact, I’ve forgotten the names of some of the tattooers who have tattooed me, but I still like to look at those tattoos and reminisce. I’ll continue to travel round the world and get tattoos from my good friends and artists.

What’s been your proudest moment in your career so far? My happiest and proudest moment was when I won first prize at the Taiwan Tattoo Convention. Amazing artists from all over the world attended and I was very happy that my efforts were rewarded when I won first place in the contest.

Some artists may not like these events, but for me, conventions motivate me and allow me to set goals to move towards. Looking at the works of countless great artists helps me see the differences between our works. I find my shortcomings, get ideas and things to try in my next tattoo. I feel like I can gradually find my own style.

What do you do when you’re not tattooing? When I don’t get tattoos, I enjoy doing things that inspire me or exercising. I play golf, go mountain climbing or exhibitions with my wife. I also like to talk with her and organise my thoughts. Because she’s also a tattoo artist, we understand each other, give advice, and have many conversations and hobbies together.

Also, due to the nature of my job, I have to sit down and work for a long time, so exercise is essential to me and it gives me a lot of energy. I am always organising my thoughts and making plans so that I can move forward with my goals.

Where do you see yourself in five years? I’ll probably have my own shop in LA and keep working on tattoos. I want to collaborate with the artists that I like and respect not just tattooing but other artistic outlets. My small goal is to not stop moving forward, not just in tattooing but in language studios and painting. I want to keep attending conventions and travelling the world. I’m sure in five years time I will be more developed and mature in all my abilities.

Follow @dino_oriental for more incredible tattoos and travel plans.

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Interview with tattoo artist Jooyoung

Tattooist Jooyoung creates beautifully colourful floral tattoos near Hongik University in Seoul, South Korea. Here she tells us all about her journey into the tattoo world and love for travel…

How long have you been tattooing and how did you get started in the industry? This year marks 11 years since I first began tattooing. I have had a talent for painting since childhood and I have always enjoyed drawing.

I began to explore the tattoo industry as I wanted more opportunities to display my painting skills. When I became an official tattoo artist, I fell in love with this profession and have been practicing it ever since.

To have a deeper understanding of tattoos, I also studied English and attended multiple international tattoo exhibitions.

What inspired you to become an artist? Do you have a background in art? My interest and passion for art is my primary source of inspiration. I have art education. I worked as an art instructor at the academy for a long period after graduating from art school, although I wasn’t very interested in it.

At the time I was looking into how I could increase the value and reputation of my paintings. I happened to come upon a tattoo by chance and decided to challenge myself to do it professionally. 

How would you describe your style? What drew you to colour tattoos? My tattoos are often delicate and use a variety of colours. I’m skilled at creating tattoos with fine lines in various colours. I also incorporate a contemporary Korean style into my tattoos.

If I think about the reason I got into colouring tattoos, I believe it’s because I have always liked painting with different colours. Colour tattoos require a great deal of effort and time, but they are always pleasurable.

What inspires your designs? Does your heritage influence your art? Where I grew up was abundant with nature. I’ve always been interested in nature because I grew up surrounded by mountains and fields and spent time outdoors with my friends. I was greatly inspired by nature. I prefer mountains and the sea and I am a fan of plants and flowers.

Can you tell us about the process behind your tattoos? What do you like to tattoo and what would you like to do more of? Tattooing was not a smooth journey for me, especially during the first year or two of my career as I encountered numerous obstacles. Even though I now enjoy tattooing after numerous different experiences, I was initially terrified and lacked confidence.

I like doing small-sized tattoos. When I initially began doing small-scale tattoos, I experimented on my younger brother. I was so anxious and overwhelmed that I had no idea where to begin. Fortunately, my teacher was really kind and taught me how to do it and so I felt much better and began to gain confidence. Small tattoos are difficult to create since they require a great deal of design and detail to be unique, but I have mastered the skill through extensive practice.

I would like to try something new in the future. I will experiment with more tattoos with unique styles and designs. I will also make an effort to create more large-scale tattoos, which involve different abilities and designs.

How do you see your tattoos evolving in the future? Now that I am proficient with small-sized tattoos, I plan to experiment with various styles. I will continue to create colour tattoos in the future, as they are my expertise and my favourite. However, my tattoos will become increasingly unique and larger.

What was your first tattoo? Do you still like it? How has your tattoo collection developed since then? My first tattoo is a floral watercolour design. This tattoo was given to me by my best friend, who is a renowned tattoo artist. I like it very much. To this day, I vividly recall how painful the process was. It was too large for my first tattoo. I got the tattoo over two days sitting for for five hours each time, and it hurt so much.

Since then, when I do tattoos for others, I concentrate primarily on smaller designs because they are less uncomfortable.

Where’s been your favorite place to travel and tattoo? England is an excellent travel and tattoo destination.

I was in England as part of a guestspot. I had a wonderful and unforgettable experience. I did some excellent tattoos and met nice people there. The weather, the guests, and the vibe at that time were all perfect. 

Do you have any travels or guest spots planned? Next year, I intend to work in Europe. Europe is a lovely and romantic region with several attractions. After completing my guest work, I intend to travel with my husband on a lengthy trip.

What’s the tattoo scene like where you are? Tattoos are still seen negatively by the majority of Koreans, but tattoos are gaining popularity among young people. Due to legal and medical restrictions, tattooing in Korea is not as free as in other countries. I hope that people’s attitudes of tattoos will change in the future. I am also aiming to increase the popularity of tattoos.

What do you do when you’re not tattooing/drawing? When I am not tattooing, I prefer to exercise or enjoy my personal time by doing things like reading. Once a week, I also enjoy spending time with my husband and engaging in enjoyable activities. 

What moment in your career are you most proud of? I enjoy doing tattoos for people from various countries. I also travel to various countries as a guest spot and attend tattoo conventions. These opportunities allow me to experience a variety of things and engage in artistic exchanges with top tattoo artists. As a tattoo artist specialising in the Korean style, I am also pleased to represent Korea through my tattoos and educate a wider audience about Korean tattoos.

When I receive recognition from a large number of tattoo lovers and other professionals, I feel the most accomplished. This strengthens me and motivates me to work harder. If they enjoy and value the tattoos I’ve given them, I feel that my value is increasing.

Follow @jooyoung_tt for more incredible floral tattoos and travel updates.

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Interview with tattoo artist Yerae

Tattooist Yerae creates beautiful floral tattoos at Dasibom studio in South Korea. We chatted to the tattoo artist about her love for colour and creating coverup tattoos for her clients…

How long have you been tattooing and how did you get started in the industry? I’ve been tattooing for over three years and I have always been interested in drawing. However, I didn’t attend art school as my family encouraged me to focus on academics instead.

My interest in art and painting has never ceased and I often wondered how I could continue my artistic career. Then one day, I accompanied my friend to Seoul to get her first tattoo. As soon as I saw the tattoo artist at work, I fell in love with the job. I found drawing on people’s bodies to be absolutely stunning. Since then, I have taken tattoo classes and pursued the profession. My paintings have gradually evolved into my own tattoo style. 

What inspired you to become an artist? Do you have a background in art? As mentioned previously, I have been interested in art since I was a child. I became a tattoo artist as a result of my enthusiasm for art, particularly drawing on people’s bodies.

As a hobby, I have always painted, yet I’ve never received any art education. In school I studied International Relations and Political Science, which are completely unrelated to art. The topic itself was interesting, but I could not envision myself working in the industry, because I had always wanted a job that would allow me to utilise my creativity.

How would you describe your style? What drew you to colour tattoos? My tattoo style is both feminine and eye-catching because I use  lots of brilliant and strong colours – I create numerous floral tattoos. Initially, the majority of my work was in black ink, but after realising that the uniqueness and character of flowers are derived from their colour, I decided to concentrate more on colour tattoos.

Despite the range of colours and species, I believe that every flower has a distinguishing hue that identifies it. When you think of sunflower or daffodil, the colour yellow comes to mind, but when you think of violet, the colour purple comes to mind.

I believe the usage of multiple colours adds vibrancy to tattoos because we inhabit a world of colour. In addition, I execute numerous coverups, which, in my opinion, far more dramatic results are produced with colours.

What inspires your designs? Does your heritage influence your art? Since the majority of my work focuses on floral and botanical elements, I get inspiration mostly from flowers, plants, and nature, but also from my clientele.

Regarding coverups, for instance, I have had numerous clients who were desperate to cover their existing tattoos. Before confirming an appointment, I discuss with my clients how they wish to cover it up so that they do not regret their decision. Once covered, it is difficult to remove or apply additional coverups, therefore I strive for perfection. For coverup work, my designs are inspired by the client’s preferences, their present tattoo’s shape, placement, and flow, as well as their body’s positioning and placement.

I remember that my grandfather was so pleased to see me sitting down with my sketchbooks and drawing as a child. He bought me crayons, coloured pencils, watercolors, and additional art supplies. When I first saw his drawings, I was astounded since they were primarily portraits and I never anticipated my grandfather to be so talented in art, as he was an accountant and I never saw him draw. Later on, he explained to me that after surviving the Korean war, he was unable to follow his dream of being an artist. When he saw me drawing, he was delighted and believed I had inherited his artistic talent. He complimented me, offered me advice, and gave me his old sketching books. I believe that his encouragement of my artistic endeavors influenced me to become an artist.

What do you like to tattoo and what would you like to do more of? Recently, I had the chance to create a back coverup with flowers and a dragon. It was difficult, but I enjoyed tattooing the dragon so much that I’d like to do more fantastical animals surrounded by natural elements.

In addition, a few months ago I worked on a floral leg piece that extends from the ankle to the thigh. It required four complete sessions, each lasting 8-9 hours. I enjoyed the way the flowers, stems and leaves flowed along the leg line despite the lengthy duration of the project. I would love to create more full-leg and full-sleeve designs.

How do you see your tattoos evolving in the future? Since I already have a high level of expertise in floral tattoos and a large number of clients come to me just for floral tattoos, I believe that I will continue to concentrate my work on flowers and other elements from nature. I would also like to focus more on coverup and larger pieces in the future. I am also considering using more toned-down colours to add variety to my design, as I have predominantly used brilliant tones.

Where’s been your favorite place to travel and tattoo? Last summer, I visited London, Hamburg, and Leeds, and each of these cities was fantastic.

I visited London for the first time abs I made some tattoos there. Not only was it enjoyable to do tattoos, but also to explore the city.

In Germany, I attended graduate school. Visiting Hamburg brought up many pleasant memories from the past. It was a wonderful opportunity to return to the country, and in Hamburg, the tattoo studio, the people, and even the weather were perfect.

I attended the Leeds Tattoo Convention when in Leeds. I finished three outstanding tattoos at the convention, and my clients loved them. This exhibition also raised awareness of Korean tattoos among a wider audience. Everyone who passed by at the convention was drawn to my unique tattoo style, and they conveyed their admiration and affection for Korean tattoos to me. I am pleased that people are taking a keen interest in my tattoo style and complimenting it positively. Participating in such a big event is very valuable to me because I am able to communicate with so many tattoo artists from multiple countries, share my tattoo experience with them, discuss the challenges and solutions of working in the tattoo industry, and discuss various tattoo techniques.

Do you have any travels or guest spots planned? Although I don’t have any concrete plans as of right now, one of my goals for the coming year is to travel to Australia for a guest spot.

What was your first tattoo? Do you still like it? How has your tattoo collection developed since then? My first tattoo was a script of my name in Dzongkha, a Sino-Tibetan language, on my shoulder. However, it had faded with time, so I covered it with flowers. All of my tattoos are floral designs. My intention is to cover my left arm with black flowers and my right arm with coloured flowers. 

What’s the tattoo scene like where you are? I think that most people are aware that in South Korea, tattooing was not previously a common practice or topic of conversation. Due to fine line designs and work details, the market for Koran tattoos continues to expand, and Korean tattoo artists are increasingly famous for their talents and designs.

However, the tattoo industry in Korea still has a long way to go in terms of developing a safer and more comfortable environment for both tattoo artists and clients. I am optimistic about the future. I hope that one day a growing number of individuals will value and be proud of their tattoos. I am also working to promote Korean tattoos internationally by traveling to different countries and presenting my work. 

What moment in your career are you most proud of? I enjoy and appreciate all of my works, but I am particularly proud of my scar coverups. Many of my clients were traumatised by the scar or recall the time they were injured. One of my clients had multiple red marks on her legs and praised my job by stating that she had never worn a short skirt since she was a child because she wanted to conceal them. She said that even her parents were pleased to have the scars covered, and so I felt proud and pleased to be a tattoo artist. 

Follow Yerae for more beautiful floral tattoos and impressive coverups.