Pascal, when did you start work like tattoo-master?
So I started same year than armwrestling... back to 1988. But at that time things were really different than now. It was like discovering a new world, and actually really closed one as I’ve sent 1000 euros the address where to buy stuff to tattoo. And no internet. So everything was difficult not like nowadays that you can buy any starter kit for 50 euros in internet.
When I started I was working same time in a chemical factory. I did it as a hobby and didn’t get any art education, cause at that time it was completely different. Tattoo was not an art but a form of discredit of the actual society...
So in the late 90' tattoos started to be more acceptable for common people and from that point it started to be more commercial. So from that point more interesting for artists who wanted to be involved in it and the level increased a lot. At the end it was a time for me to go to art school, what I did from 2009 to 2012.
What is a tattoo for you – just a sketch or a symbol with special sense or smth else?
For me now a tattoo is kind of art expression, nothing about symbol, it has to come from the deep side of your hidden side. Of course people that are subject to fashion victim will do it purely to follow mass media.
My favorite style is realistic, cause it gives the most powerful feelings and expressions like the same music style.
What was your own first tattoo made? How much do you have now?
I got my first tattoo at 16, it was done by one of the best of that time (and still is) Filip Leu the legendary japanese master... I have several old tattoos that I plan to cover up.
Do you have tattoos connected with armwrestling? Did you make tatts to armwrestlers?
I don’t have at the moment any tattoo connected with armwrestling. Maybe in future. I did some tatts to armwrestlers and the important side of it is to do something more deep and personal than the usual 2 arms.
What is the attitude to tattooed people in Switzerland? Do you ever have some problems connected with tatts?
When I was young, tattoos weren’t as tolerated as now... So yes, sometimes got some problems with it but now in Switzerland as mostly 50% of people under 40 y. o. got some. It’s another situation.
What advice can you give for those who decide to make a tattoo but still scares?
The most important when you do a tattoo is to do it for yourself and not to follow any fashion code.
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Anastazja Kisilyova
Anastasia Kisilyova