Sonia Tattoo Lady, or Sonia Cash, it is according to, is a tattoo artist of Russian origin who divides her life between Tel Aviv, Israel, and Berlin, Germany. Two cities, two countries with historical crossings that have left deep scars. Sonia develops a style made of female characters, doubles of herself? , wearing tattoos and living in an imaginary world linked to circus, dance and entertainment. Small immersion in the world of Sonia in charming company.
Hi Sonia, can you introduce yourself to the readers of INKERS?
Hello, My name is Sonia (official Sofia), I'm 39 years young and I love tattooing and meeting good people around the world.
You are from Russia, born in Russia, in which city? What decide you to establish yourself in Berlin? When did you move and why?
Well I was born in Kaspiysk, Republic of Dagestan in Russia. When I was 8-9 years young, it this when Communism ended and a very dark time started in Russia, so My parents decided to leave Russia and as my mother is Jewish they decided to move to Israel... It's where I grew up and spent most my life. When I was 33, I decided to move to Europe because I was travelling before and Israel seemed too small and a bit boring for me and my dream was to be able to live in a place where I can easily travel. So Berlin was the easiest option and I kind of liked this city because it's very liberal with a lot of subculture and nature, so I took my dog and two suitcases and moved.
Why did you choose to also move to work at Tel Aviv?
I always lived in tel Aviv so I have a big client base there and I love to go there to spent time at the beach and visiting friends and family .
About life in general, what are the differences in daily life between Russia, Germany and Israel?
MENTALITY Ha ha! Well it's been a long time since I was in Russia so I can't really say something. Israel, is very small and loud, people are very warm and nice and will always help you, but also they can be super loud and rude compared to European mentality. There are amazing beaches and Israel is so small so you have so many different landscapes like forests mountains desert lakes and 3 different seas, the weather is nice almost all the time. And they have the best Hummus. Germany has more space and it's huge and not a lot of people have real worries in life, compared to Israeli people who are living in more of a survival mode because of the « war" and because of the economy. So a lot of them live like it's the last day of their lives and also the life is very fast. Here in Germany life is easy and more chill, people are more politically correct, liberal and give you your space but also I find that people from here are having a hard time opening up emotionally. Sometimes it's feels like they are more reserved and have hard times to trust others comparing to Israelis. And of course it's colder here, but summers are amazing and fun, there is a lot of concerts parties and everything is pretty affordable for everyone. Israel is twice or three times more expensive with the same salary.
And about tattoo? What are the biggest differences between these countries?
Israel is not so developed in my opinion compared to Germany when it comes to tattooing. Also in Israel tattoos are forbidden by religion, and there is a lot of religious people and very primitive people will give you that negative look. It's only now normal to have tattoos and many people have to cover them in official jobs, and in Germany lots of people that work in education and official government offices have tattoos all over. A lot of styles are still not that developed in Israel because people don't really live in the culture of art and tattoos. They don't travel so much and working with people abroad, also they do only what they see on the internet.
When did you start tattooing, and why?
I start tattooing in 2012. I was always passionate about tattoos, and since a young age I was saying that I wanted to make art that will stay forever even if I never knew it would be tattooing. I just wanted people to enjoy my art until the end of their days. So when I was 13 I got into punk and saw many tattooed people during my adolescence life and really loved it. I got tattooed when I was 15 for the first time and since then I was appreciated my presence in a tattoo shop. I really loved the traditional and the 2000s old school tattoos, so sometimes, I was drawing similar designs. At that time, it was very hard to become a tattooer, so for me it was like a dream. Only when I was 27 I decide to ask my tattooer friends and my main tattooer to help me learn how to tattoo... Even when my drawings looked like shit it was good enough for Israeli level that time and after a year and a half of learning and spending as much time as I could possibly spend at tattoo shops asking questions and watching the work. I started working in one of the best shops in Tel Aviv (Dynamo Tattoo), thanks to Dori that believed in me and took me in. I got more experience and development I could say I'm a tattooer .
Who are the people, tattoo artists, who gave you the envy to be a tattoo artist?
Ohhh there are so many! I'm afraid to miss someone. So at the beginning I was very influenced by Hannah Aitchison, Angelique Houtkamp, Paul Dobleman, Uncle Allan, Alix Ge, Kim Ahn, Guen Douglas and El Bara... When I saw their amazing work I was so driven and inspired. Also in Israel I was very inspired by Avi Nassi, George Zamborsky and Arik Mon.
Your work is mainly based on women, tattooed women, artists from circus, dancers and so on... Where does the inspiration come from?
So since I was a kid I liked drawing woman, I remember sometimes I was drawing them on my class mates ... and I always thought that woman are the prettiest thing in the world. It was always my favourite subject. I was always tattooing almost every thing in traditional and old school style, but when Covid came, I had more time to draw and express myself. So what is more cool then a women in every sizes and a lot of tattoos doing cool things with their bodies dressed in minimal clothes?! Then I start to draw and tattoo them more and more, people wanted to get them so it became kind of my thing. I love it because each one of them has her own personality and meaning something to the clients.
Where did you find and how do you work the tattoo patterns you put on your women characters that become tattoos on bodies? It's like tattoos on tattoos kind of work.
A lot of them are old tattoos that I have done. I have saved the designs on my iPad or sketchbook and I simplify them. Or I just get a lot of inspiration from a traditional artist I love so I can be inspired and redraw the classic stuff, or things I see on real people and the harmony it's giving so i make it on the characters. Sometimes also the clients will ask me for their preferences and I do it on their request... it's like always the same tattoos but different, like the traditional style itself.
How is the tattoo scene in Tel Aviv?
It's getting big now, there are a lot of new good young artists and we even have the Israel tattoo convention in Tel-Aviv, almost every year. So everyone are welcome there! And today is very fashionable to have tattoos there, but I'm still getting stupid comments but not like I did 5-10 years ago when it was impossible walking on the street without someone throwing you a negative comment. Let me tell ya, in Jewish religion there is saying "don't harm your body" so making tattoos is forbidden, so they used to tell urban legends about how after you've died the undertaker would burn or cut your body and they undertake you... So some people will tattoos before burial and to this day some people will still comment « You know they can't burry you with tattoos and they will scalp it out" like I care what they're gonna do to me when I'm dead! Apart of that, tatts are becoming super popular .
How is it going Tel Aviv, do you work in a street tattoo studio or in a private tattoo salon?
So because I grew up there I have my client base there, sometimes I like to come there and work in private studio of my friend Avi Nassi or in a street shop Gida Tattoos. Mainly I will rent my own space and will work there alone, one on one with the client. Privacy is very important to me and the experience I want the client will have during the tattoo. Also sometimes I get a bit of social anxiety, so I need to be alone to feel more comfortable.
Well my costumers are coming from all aspects of life, different ages and genders. My work pretty much speaks to everyone.
What is for you the best tattoo you wish to make one day?
I really love what I'm doing right now, I just wish these small tattoos on my tattooed woman characters will last bold forever but I know they won't. So I just wish to improve my technique and drawing skills so every tattoo I do will be the best for me and for the customers.
This is the end of the interview... Please, the last words are yours... you're free to add something!
I wanna say big thanks to everyone who support me and getting tattooed by me. It means a lot to me. Also I wanna say big thanks to all my colleagues and artists that believed in me and hosted me in their shops and to all the great tattoo artists that put so much effort and time in this work so others can be inspired by them.
