interview with tattoo artist Gabor Kanyuk

  Hello Gabor Kanyuk! Thank you so much for taking the time to do this interview. Please start by telling us something about yourself and how you got into tattooing? Hello! I'm a 24 years old tattoo artist from southern Germany. Since I was a child I loved drawing and one day stumbled over a tattoo magazine. While I was flipping pages I thought to myself: "I want to try this too!" So I grabbed a pen and started drawing on the skin of my friends. I was given the opportunity to watch over the shoulder of a tattoo artist. Shortly after I bought my first tattoo gun.

Q: Are you self taught artist? When did you start?
A: Yes, I'm basically self-taught. I dropped out school and started tattooing about 4 years ago. At first it wasn't much more than a hobby, I tattooed myself, my brother and some of my friends who wanted a cheap tattoo. Haha! For me the most difficult part was when I started understanding how to handle the tattoo gun in order to achieve the best results. I pushed myself to get better and better every day until this turned into a profession.

Q: What kind of art interested you in the beginning?
A: As a teenager I read a lot of comic books and tried to copy my favorite super heroes. I filled my school books with these drawings to the distress of my teachers. Even though it takes a lot of time I try to create space for photography and painting, from time to time. I like to visit an art museum. This of course influence my work.

Q: What about digital art?
A: I use my computer a lot. To safe time I compose a raw idea on a picture editing software. The rest happens with pen and paper.

Q: What are some of the funniest experiences with the clients?
A: Pew, that's a tough question. It's a great job, because you have contact with a lot of different people. One funny moment happened while I was tattooing a guy on his lower leg. He was really tired so he suddenly fell asleep while I was still working on him and he started twitching so that I completely screwed up a line. Luckily I was able to fix that. Now I give them Red Bull, we joke around and I keep them awake.

Q: Have you ever learned something about life while listening to someone's story during those long sessions?
A: Of course there are a lot of interesting things to learn from the customers. The topics are from "vegan lifestyle" to "how to fix a car".

Q: Have you ever thought to change something about your style?
A: I think about that constantly. I like many different styles, that's why I try new things all the time. Like my personal taste also my tattoo style changes constantly.

Q: Do you think that an artist should be recognizable for only one style? What do you think sets you apart from the other artists out there?
A: I think every artist should have the goal to stand out and make his work recognizable. Only then their tattoos will be special. What distinguishes me from others, hm a tough question again. I think everyone can have an opinion, but it's important for me to identify myself with every work I create.

Q: What is your biggest challenge?
A: Apart from the long sitting during work it's mostly the office work I have to absolve. The creative part is what I really excel at and not answering emails that tend to pile up in my in-box.

Q: The every day motto?
A: I don't really have a motto but if I have to pick one I would say "haste make waste" might fit, because I take the time I need to do the best I can.

Q: As an artist, do you face some obstacles?
A: I can't really think of anything particular at the moment. I think I'm really lucky with my clients but people can be impatient, this can be arduous sometimes.

Q: Where are you located now?
A: I own a little shop "Spatz mit Hirn Tattoo" in a small village called "Sasbach" which belongs to the black forest and I do guest spots frequently, for example at the "Nadelwerk" in Wels, Austria.

Tattoostudio Nadelwerk/Austria
Dr. Kossstrasse 7 / 4600 Wels, Austria
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You can find me on facebook as Spatz mit Hirn Tattoo. Thank you!