Text: Tiphaine Deraison / Pictures: (c)Gakkin / Trad James C.
At 40 years old, Gakkin, tattoo artist born in Kyoto, describes himself as « neither too young nor too old ». He inks massive pieces, with intense black and a strong impact.
Using free hand technique (which consists of drawing directly onto the skin), this tattoo artist, whose black ink is his trademark, creates pieces with movements infused by the traditional Japanese which perfectly wraps around the bodies. The tattooist seems to oppose this with a more modern technique, reminiscent of photography, in a more graphic style: the negative effect. His favourite subjects are animals and flowers, always perfectly unique. Gakkin has been inking for a year in Amsterdam, which also allows him to register for the seventh edition of the Mondial du Tatouage in Paris. Perhaps still in Europe for a year or more, he himself is not certain. Gakkin is always moving around and with his talent who wouldn't ?
Initially, "bad boy who liked to draw", it was while observing tattoos of the period that he says to himself "my drawings are much better! ». After high school, he starts inking a friend of his. But Gakkin doesn't like school, and even if he later goes on to study in a design school, he leaves three months later. Without an artistic education, Gakkin doesn't ask so many questions, he likes tattoos and it's for fun that he immerses himself in this strong traditional Japanese culture, saying:" I realized that this is the best way to enjoy my life". His style, he doesn't think too much about it, he rather feels it and lets himself be lulled by many old photographs, and objects related to nature.
His style is recognizable especially when he works on bodysuits: « I can transform the body of my clients and bring out what’s most beautiful, powerful and elegant within them with the Free Hand drawing, that's what's exciting. » Impressive on a technical and aesthetic level, his pieces reveal a universe with characteristics between traditional and futuristic, punk and cyberpunk, eroticism and nature.
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