“Harley Davidson and tattoos go together. I became a tattoo artist more or less by chance, but I bought my Harley this year completely intentionally, just to make myself happy,” says Lukáš Poláček, the head of the most famous tattoo studio in Prague.
You’ll find Inkoust Tattoo Studio in an inconspicuous alley near the famous Imperial Hotel in the center of Prague. From the outside, it’s a door like any other, but as soon as you step inside, it’s clear you’ve entered a different world. An extremely relaxed mood always reigns here, and the conversation is “disturbed” only by the buzz of tattoo needles.
Lukáš Poláček is the owner of the studio and the head of the entire team, and he gave us an exclusive interview about himself, tattooing, and his love for Harleys.
How did you get into tattooing in the first place?
I was born in Prague, graduated from a high school focused on art and advertising, and for about 10 years I worked as a graphic artist, designer, and freelancer in the advertising industry. I’ve done a lot of work for developers and shopping centers, from corporate identity to classic advertising campaigns. Then I got a taste of tattooing, gave it a try, and one day I realized I wasn’t doing graphic design anymore, but tattooing. I’ve been making a living from tattooing for 7 years now, and I think it will stay that way.
When did you get your first tattoo?
I became a tattoo artist more or less by chance, like most things in life. I actually gave myself my first tattoo in primary school with India ink. My first official tattoo was done by my current colleague Bára, who is my guru in the field of tattooing and introduced me to this world. I got my first proper tattoo on my back when I was eighteen. That design is long gone because at that age, you have a completely different way of thinking and don’t really know what you want. You come up with something and without professional advice, you’re just out of your depth. That’s why, based on our own experiences, we try to advise our customers on both the designs and their placement, so that it fits their personality.
What is the tattoo scene like in the Czech Republic today?
Tattooing has a much shorter tradition in the Czech Republic than in neighboring countries and in Europe, which is why I’d say it’s still on the rise here. In the time I’ve been interested in and dedicated to it, tattooing in the Czech Republic has evolved a lot, developing into a professional artistic field. Among the younger generation, almost every other person has one. Because it’s so cool now, we’re seeing younger and younger customers coming to our salon; today it’s a lifestyle. As for themes, larger, bolder, and more colorful designs are becoming more common, and there are practically no taboos anymore. I think the current trend in tattooing is abstract motifs.
This is now your second tattoo studio. What’s its history?
My first studio was created after I left the tattoo studio where I was working at the time. I took about a year off to shed the status of “just a tattoo artist in some studio” and tried to refine my thoughts and figure out what I wanted to do next. I opened my own studio, Horor Vacui, which translates to “Fear of Empty Space,” a concept that has actually guided me throughout my life. Horor Vacui was originally intended just for me, where I, as the sole artist, wanted to realize my own things. After a few years, it got a little out of hand, and there were three of us, then four. The studio became very popular and busy, and its name also made it somewhat unique. After 2.5 years, we couldn’t fit into the space anymore, so a complete transformation and expansion of the studio took place.
So the studio outgrew itself?
Basically, yes. We moved to the city center, renamed ourselves Inkoust Tattoo Studio, and my vision is to build a top-tier tattoo center with perfect equipment and the best artists. A client who comes to us gets to see the most modern tattoo technologies and a perfect environment for delivering the best work. In many aspects of our operation, we far exceed the required standards, both hygienic and technological. We strive to use only the best technologies and remain open to all new developments and trends. Inkoust Studio is based on more or less family-like relationships, meaning that all the permanent collaborating artists are long-time friends. My primary concern is that everything runs smoothly and calmly. The team is supplemented by operational staff so that the tattoo artists can devote themselves solely to tattooing and deliver 100% quality work.
I know you and your artists travel the world, guest spotting in other salons?
I try to make sure we keep up with the world, and for this reason, we participate in so-called exchange programs. Both I personally and my artists from Inkoust Studio travel to tattoo at partner studios abroad, in Scotland, England… I personally enjoy going to visit my friends in Norway the most. This is also very important for gaining new experiences, as every tattoo artist has their own procedures, technologies, and tricks, and we have the opportunity to see and possibly learn how they do things elsewhere.
What are the demands of Czech clients, and do they know what they want?
The main difference between the Czech Republic and the rest of the world in the perception of tattoos is the overall approach. Here, it’s a relatively new thing that’s on the rise, and it’s mainly young people who get tattooed. When someone older comes in, say at the age of 50, it’s more or less an exception. A tattoo, at least as I see it, is the recording of an event or a moment in life onto the skin, and the designs and scope are derived from that. It usually doesn’t stop at just one. A tattoo is something that should correspond with the body and its wearer. Of course, a tattoo is also a collaborative work between the customer and the artist, and it’s good to give the artist enough freedom to create a unique piece of art. A customer often comes with a very limited request, and thanks to our years of experience, we are able to take it further—they just shouldn’t be afraid, so they don’t blend in with the crowd of averagely tattooed people. A tattoo changes a person, at least visually, and you need to think about it that way. Every tattoo has its own story; sometimes it’s a faint one, but every piece is an original.
There’s a black Harley Davidson at the entrance to the salon, sometimes even two. Are you a biker?
The last time I rode a motorcycle was about ten years ago. Then came family and kids, and there was neither the time nor the money for it. This year, I treated myself and bought my own Harley Davidson, which gives me exactly what I expected from it: a feeling of freedom, the community of bikers—Harley riders. I really enjoy rebuilding and customizing the bike, dedicating time and resources to it, because just as you build and modify the bike, you are actually modifying yourself.