IN THIS FORMAT WE INTRODUCE YOU TO A TATTOO SHOP PRESENT IN THE “TATTOO ARTISTS YEARBOOKS”, A HANDY GUIDE TO THE TATTOO SHOPS IN EUROPE.
Her work includes a world of inspirations from the traditional culture of various countries like Tibet, India, Thailand, but also from Hungary, the former Yugoslavia, her place of origin, or other Slavic countries. She loves geometrical patterns, the floral world, mandalas and symmetries.
A wealth of interests and research that Marijana – tattoo artist and co-owner with her husband Pino Cafaro of the German studio White Fox Gallery – uses to shape her refined black lines.
Hi Marijana, your name suggests that your origins are not German, is that right? Can you tell us your story in brief and how you ended up tattooing at the White Fox Gallery?
Hello Margherita, that’s right. I’m originally from the former Yugoslavia, but I’ve been living in Germany for a very long time now. My parents moved to Germany in the seventies for work and I was born here. In the meantime, I also spent 8 years with my grandparents in Yugoslavia, but then I moved back to Germany as a teenager.
I got into tattooing when I met my husband, Pino Cafaro, more than 20 years ago. We opened our first tattoo studio together back then, it was called Elektrik Revolver and about 9 years ago, we moved the studio to a new location and at the same time we changed our name to White Fox Gallery.
Were you a tattoo fan before becoming a tattoo artist?
Yes, I have always been very interested in tattoos and had the desire to get a large tattoo. Back at the days I bought lots of tattoo magazines and then looked closely at all the pictures, familiarising myself with the different tattoo styles. It really fascinated me. But originally I have studied social work, and worked with people with psychiatric illnesses for many years, so not a very artistic background…
How many years have you been at the White Fox? Can you tell us what you like about this famous tattoo shop?
As I mentioned before, I’ve been at the White Fox Gallery since the very beginning. So exactly nine years now. What I love most about this place is the collegial, friendly atmosphere. The constant artistic exchange with different people from all over the world and the creative flow…
It’s an honour to work side by side with so many talented artists and it gives me a huge boost in my own work.
Let’s get to your style: has it always been Geometric Ornamental? How has it evolved?
Ornaments have always been my passion – long before I started tattooing. I love patterns in all their forms, geometric shapes, repetitions and symmetries. So it felt very natural for me to pursue this love and develop it further in tattooing. When I started tattooing, I tended to draw simple patterns as I wasn’t technically ready to create complex motifs. This has changed over time and I‘m very happy being able to realize now large-scale concepts, but always without disregarding the symmetry of the body….
What are your favourite subjects and what are most yours?
I love to tattoo floral inspired ornaments, with thick lines and without shading or filled areas. I make sure that the design is not too complex but not too simple either. I like to use different line thicknesses to visually break up the ornament and not make it look too static. Also to follow the shape of the body…
Where do you get your inspiration from?
Well, this field is quite large. However, most of them are folklore-inspired motifs from different regions, for example from Tibet, India, Thailand, but also from Hungary, the former Yugoslavia or other Slavic countries.
Sometimes I mix the different styles and try to create something new so that I don’t repeat myself too often.
Basically, there are so many sources of inspiration, this can be also churches, paintings or tiles, even manhole covers. I think for me it’s important to walk through the world with my eyes wide open and collect ideas along the way.
Drawing mandalas is an almost hypnotic practice and is considered an anti-stress technique. Is it the same for you?
In fact, I have to say that it can be very relaxing at times. It has a certain hypnotising effect, but this only comes into play when I’m drawing. When it comes to tattooing, I tend to be super stressed because I want to get it tattooed as perfect as possible, and that’s when the relaxation comes definitely to an end.
White Fox is also famous as an art gallery. Do you also do works on paper or other media for exhibitions?
Yes, definitely – I’ve already had the honour to contribute pictures to some book projects and last year I took part of the “Metal for Nepal” exhibition, which I was very pleased about. I’d love to draw more on paper, but unfortunately I don’t have the time at the moment. I hope that will change this summer and I’ll be able to paint more again. I have some Ideas I really would love to bring on paper…
Let’s conclude with a look at the near future: interesting programmes that can affect your professional profile?
Yes maybe… let’s see where the journey takes me. I’m currently working on my first bodysuit, and I have to say that it’s challenging and exciting at the same time where I’m learning a lot! I’m really excited to see what the future holds for me.
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