Today we visit a pair of characters that I probably have to use a lot of beautiful adjectives to describe them as they are both talented tattoo artists, they have a busy tattoo studio and a family. Happy family. I’ve gathered a lot of questions, let’s start answering them!
Greetings Tu and Huong! Thank you both for accepting this appointment. The first is a common but very reasonable question when we conduct interviews with tattoo artists. How did you two start entering this ink world?
Tu: Tattoos and having them have always been a passion of mine. Then it got to the point where I wanted to go to school to become a tattoo artist, but it wasn’t easy because the fees and being able to study was a big obstacle for me at that time. In 2017, I was fortunate to meet a brother named Son En, who was then a tattoo artist and had the opportunity to help him with his work. That’s where I started to understand this job.
Huong: I have had a passion for drawing since I was young, and later attended university for architecture, partly because it was related to my drawing hobby and also my family’s wish. Gradually, my interest declined during my college years. I knew quite clearly that I wanted to study tattooing and wanted to stop studying altogether. And I actually decided to do that, but I hid it from my family for a long time. Mr. Viet Phuong, a famous tattoo artist, gave me the chance to start learning about this job through a course.
What is your favorite subject?
Tu: Realistic style is something I like, and tattoos that can be completed in one session are the best. Lately, I’ve been very inspired by the Graphic genre because I feel like I can still keep the realistic element but have more freedom and ease in combining different content on one tattoo. I also especially like to incorporate elements about Vietnam into my works whenever I have the opportunity. I believe that Graphic Tattoo is the style I will be following for a long time.
Huong: Monochrome tattoos are a favorite of mine, but I have a particular affinity for Mandalas. It’s as if there’s something inside me that makes composing and performing it a pleasure, easily putting me in a state of flow while working.
What is it that makes you feel lucky while walking on this path?
It brings us great joy to have had the opportunity to experience different tattoo studios. Every place has a lot of things worth learning to help us improve yourself..
Which decision did you think was the most courageous during your journey?
Tu: I am getting married
Huong: I hid from my parents the fact that I dropped out of school to go to tattoo school and used the family money to support my studies to buy tattoo equipment.
Which milestone did you think had the greatest impact on your skills??
Tu:I think that was the time I worked at the 1984 Tattoo Studio. This was the time when I experienced working with many tattoos, so I gained a lot of experience.
Huong: Me too! 1984 was the first time I experienced working with real customers.
What else do you think attracts customers to our tattoo studio, besides these two amazing tattoo styles?
We think it’s comforting, we always treat customers as friends, talk to them a lot. And indeed we have many new friends through this job.
What we find most enjoyable about this job?
Occasionally, we can do a tattoo together.
Thank you both very much for this time chatting. I wish us to continually move forward! Vietnamese. INK will always keep an eye on you.
FIRSTORDER TATTOO STUDIO
Address: 57 Au Co .st – Tayho – Hanoi.
Phone: 096 291 44 55
