Today we would like to present to you the first interview of our new special project "Artists and their Tattoos" in the framework of which you can read an interviews with musicians, designers, photographers or other artists concerning (their) tattoos. In this project you will be able get to know their stories and see their tattoos. And I think that you haven’t had any idea about many of them. The first who agreed to answer our questions was Alex Blaschke (bass) from UNZUCHT. On the 2nd of September, the band released their 4th full-length album ‘Neuntöter’ and will go back on tour soon.
Reflections of Darkness [RoD]: When did you get your first tattoo and what was it? Did it take much time to make you doing it?
Alex: My first tattoo I did at that age when I no longer needed parental permission. Rebellion and all. ;) I always knew that I wanted a tattoo, so I had enough time to think about what it should be.
RoD: How many tattoos do you have? Could you please tell us their story?
Alex: It’s rather difficult, because most of them are going one to another. Each has its own history and meaning. I can understand when people get tattoos for aesthetic reasons, but this approach is not for me. Everything has a value, but I want to save it for me.
RoD: Have you already made all tattoos that you wanted or will there be some new ones next time?
Alex: I think it will never end. Who can say, "only this one"? It may sound again and again as "oh, well, it’s the only one and that's enough" and I have already four of them that just happened. I definitely will do something else. To do this, I still have enough space on my body and enough things that I would like to remember.
RoD: Have you done all tattoos by one tattoo artist or by different ones? How do you choose the tattoo artist? In addition, who makes your sketches?
Alex: In my case, there were four tattoo artists, two guys and two girls. The First one was advised me by a friend of mine. As to others, I met them at different times and they just belong to my circle of friends. I liked their work and each of them has his own style, which I would like to have on my skin. Sketches basically were created by me and the tattoo artists have improved them and adapted to the application.
RoD: Making a tattoo hurts, how do you cope with the pain during the sessions?
Alex: Everything that is not on the chest - it is child's play. When I did a tattoo on the calf, I even fell asleep. But the chest, hell, there I was howling. Each one has its own sensitivity to pain.
RoD: Do you regret of getting tattoo sometimes?
Alex: No.
RoD: What is your taboo in terms of tattoos? What will never be made by you and you don’t like to be made by other people?
Alex: What other people do to themselves - does not concern me. Everyone does what he wants. Everyone likes something different. What I will never have on my skin are the stars, flowers and Chinese characters.
RoD: Some people say that the drive to acquire body art is addictive while others say it fails to meet the true definition of an addiction, calling it simply a passion. Is it really impossible to stop?
Alex: As I said, I do not think you can completely stop this and say - that's all. Someday the wish to follow up will appear again.
RoD: Last Year’s tattoos are a new trend; many people do not think about the meaning, they just want to have something coloured on the skin, to be in trend. These people often just go into tattoo salon and ask to show what they have. Tattoo artists are not artists any more, they produce consumer goods. Not all of them, of course. How do you feel about this situation?
Alex: If people like meaningless tattoos, only to be tattooed, then go forward. That's their business. My tattoo artists have always been honest. If someone came and wanted something that did not correspond to a salon, he has sent him to the competitors. The main thing does not bring him in connection with such stuff. Even if you are a tattoo artist you do not have to do everything.
RoD: I would like to talk about the social aspect of tattoos too. Previously, many people thought that if you have a tattoo you will be never be successful and will not find a "good" job. Have the consciousness and people's perceptions changed or are prejudices still alive?
Alex: Everything has changed. As you said, right now I have the feeling that almost everyone has a tattoo. This can be the daughter's name on his forearm or dragon head to toe. People don’t care anymore if you have tattoos or not. Of course there are still some areas where this is not so simple, but everyone knows about it. If I want to work as a banker, I would not make a tattoo with barcode on my neck at school. With tattoos is like with sex. Not all have them, but all secretly wanted to have them!
RoD: What advice would you give to people who are going to make their first tattoo? How to choose a tattoo artist? Colour or black and white? Just some practical advice?
Alex: There are no tips. If you want a tattoo, then you know about the direction in which it should be. Find a tattoo that matches your style, if you like the colour, so be bright, if you want to have 3427 ants on the thigh, be the king of the insects. Anyway, the main thing is that you feel yourself good with it.
Special thanks to the festival NCN - Nocturnal Culture Night for supporting the project and for giving opportunity to take pictures.
Project by Daria Tessa and Daniela Vorndran, Interview by Daria Tessa
Pictures by Daria Tessa
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