During his time working in an advertising agency, Lukáš Poláček used to observe the work at a tattoo studio during his lunch breaks. Now, he is one of the most sought-after tattoo artists in the Czech Republic.
As a sculptor, I appreciate the natural beauty of the human body. Why transform it irrevocably? Tattoos should primarily be aesthetic. They should also properly shape the body. And, yes, they should be for life. You need to consider that. I don’t think many clients can imagine the consequences that might arise. Laser removal works, but it can only be used after about five years.
Many people basically don’t even know what they have tattooed on them. They can’t even explain these symbols. What do you say to that? That’s probably true. Studios used to offer designs in dusty catalogs; now, the internet browser is a common source of inspiration, so it really depends on what tattoo artist you get to. In the past, tattoo artists were also limited by techniques and tools. I even have a few things on myself that I did when I was eighteen, and I would talk myself out of them now.
How did you learn to draw yourself? Throughout my childhood, I attended a folk art school, where I enjoyed painting, drawing, but also dabbling in sculpting. Which, I actually think, every tattoo artist should have as a foundation. To study fine arts at any school. One of my tattoo artist friends, for example, focuses on illustration. I graduated from the Private Secondary School of Advertising Creation Michael, which gave me a lot. Now, I play, search, and combine. Mainly, I work with photography. I like to combine different styles together; a realistically rendered motif combined with typography, a graphic raster, or vector graphics gains a completely different energy than a larger project based only on a few portraits connected by shadows.
Are there even any tattoo schools? No. Only retraining courses. You can even get into one through the employment office. But that’s not enough for quality tattooing. Tattooing is a field that brings together multiple artistic styles, and therefore, those who want to pursue it should complete, in addition to the aforementioned art school, at least five years of apprenticeship in a tattoo studio. To hone techniques, prepare designs, and learn to communicate with clients. Only then is it appropriate to open your own studio.
How do you recognize a good tattoo artist? I would definitely find out as much available information about them as possible, for example, if they have other artistic specializations, or if there’s an interview with them, whether they’ve won any prestigious awards at a tattoo competition, but also, for example, if they don’t cancel pre-arranged appointments. Many times, it has happened to me that a client went to a tattoo artist who, in their eyes, was the best in the world, then came to us and saw the array of styles and many works. They saw that things could be done completely differently.
How are tattooed people perceived by society? Although soon I’ll probably be asking the opposite, because we with un-inked bodies are already a minority in some places. Fifteen years ago, in German magazines, I admired heavily tattooed models who often only worked in warehouses because society wasn’t able to accept them. On the other hand, if a banker came in with a visible face tattoo, even I would pause. It would be an unusual situation. Simply put, tattooing doesn’t fit into certain layers of society. On the other hand, in New Zealand, tattooing has such a history that no one bats an eye even at a tattooed judge.
Does tattooing also relate to the need to experience pain? It leads one to see tattooed people as self-harmers. Discomfort and pain are what push us forward. Pain is part of tattooing. There are certain places on the body where it’s so intense that I think it would be more appropriate to dull it. But some clients want to experience it and then appreciate the tattoo more. Self-harm, in my opinion, is, for example, a botched tattoo done at a friend’s apartment. And what about dental cosmetic procedures, permanent make-up, plastic surgery? Aren’t we also talking about self-harm? It’s something you don’t need, you just want it because you feel more comfortable with it, just like with a tattoo.