Read “The inventor of dreams” – the editorial by Miki Vialetto, here
Cover model: Kelly Ann Shuman
Originally from Holland and now a Texan, Kelly Ann is here to tell us all about her Black Traditional ink. From her endless respect for three tattooists in particular, to her love for animals and several important punk-rock bands that led us through the 90s of the third millennium, she always has an eye for her style and look. Let’s listen closely and get to know her better…
Robert Borbas: 10 Years of Grindesign
We’re honored to be able to publish this long chat with Robert Borbas, author of the new book published by Tattoo Life, 10 years of Grindesign. The art of Robert Borbas. Illustrator,graphic designer and tattooist, Robert has made significant accomplishments over the past 10 years thanks to his dynamic and fluid style, with illustrations that recall Gustav Doré engravings, tattoos, album covers and t-shirts for dark metal bands and collaborations with some top street culture brands. During our conversation we touched on themes like religion, music of course, art history, the Bible and what feeds his inspiration… Along with a special passion for trees, whose shapes and structure provide plenty of ideas for this famous tattooist from Budapest, who began and mastered a dark style that has become a model for others.
Matt Curzon: Travel, skulls, and knowing when to grab a good opportunity
Trips, personal passions, and clearly-defined, well-balanced colours. This is Matt Curzon: a tattoo artist who is as decisive in his style as in his personal choices, which – as he tells us in this interview – always become opportunities for rebirth even if they involve difficult situations. You see, Matt’s glass is always half full – and it’s even better if it’s a Mojito!
Yomico Moreno: The art of here and now
The mysteries of the universe, life, death and everything that has no answer but that everyone can find in accordance with their own point of view. For years, these have been the favorite subjects of Yomico Moreno, who was born in Venezuela and is now a New Yorker – along with a fondness for the creative vibe of Brooklyn. Moreno recalls some well-defined steps on his path, including a long collaboration with Paul Booth, an artist who he describes as the creator of a “genesis” that has influenced all tattoo artists.
Black Ship: A tattoo parlour in Barcelona
We’re just a stone’s throw away from one of the most famous monuments in Barcelona – that art deco church designed by Antoni Gaudi, the Sagrada Familia – in the emblematic Eixample Quarter full of historic buildings and some of the city’s most traditional shops. This is where you’ll find Black Ship Tattoo, and here to greet us are the studio’s two founders: Kike Esteras and Andres Inkman.
Timo Roddeke: The magic of lights and shadows
Timo Röddeke is on the crew of the German studio, The Culture Shocks. His passion is the cinema, those old noir films in which light is the master of the story, between shadows and angles. His passion has engendered his style – primarily black and grey realism -, an assortment of characters from films and TV series, and lots of patience in drawing and re-drawing the same design until he reaches perfection.
David Stoupakis: Reporter of the human condition
“I look at the work that I do as if I were a reporter of my own human condition. Even though it may only live within my own mythological world, all of the life I’ve experienced plays a role in what gets put into the work. Sometimes it can be more literal regarding what’s happening in the world around us, and sometimes it can be abstract…” Allow us to introduce you to David Stoupakis, a visual artist who is sensitive to the current state of the world, whose works include themes and reflections on heart-wrenching current events…
