Tattooing is not just a decorative art; it’s an intimate ritual, a visual language that transcends cultures and traditions. For Monki Diamond, the artistic name of Spanish tattoo artist Gema Mendez, tattooing is a sacred experience, a way to connect with both the body and the world.
Today, with a journey that intertwines travel, tribal inspirations, and a bold aesthetic, Monki stands out for her intuitive and profound approach to ornamental tattooing. In this interview, she shares her story, her deep connection with tattooing, and her dream of a life lived between ink, sun, and freedom.
First of all, I think Monki is your nickname. What is your real name, and where are you from?
My name is Gema Mendez, and I was born in Seville, in the south of Spain – the land of sunshine and azahar. My relationship with tattoos is sacred. Tattoos have been part of my life since I was 16, when I got my first tattoo as an act of rebellion, but also to commemorate a moment that marked me. Without parental consent, and wearing my school uniform, I went.
From that moment, I fell in love with the environment, the feeling, the technique, the result, and the entire process of owning my body and deciding how I wanted to look – for me. A gift to my soul, to be free to express itself. I do find tattooing very spiritual; as much as it is fun and rebellious, it can also be intense and vulnerable.
Your relationship with tattoos seems very spiritual. Is that so?
I’ve seen it in many ways… many people experience it completely differently, and I am there to provide a space for them. To make those ideas a reality, to help them choose, advise, and humbly share my knowledge. Of course, it’s a very ancient and spiritual practice – maybe the modern world has forgotten, but cutting people and putting ink in their skin has been done forever. We’ve always had the need to mark ourselves.
How did your contact with tattooing come about?
I started tattooing when I was 22. I am 33 now. I moved out of Spain at 18 and left my comfort zone early to embark on an adventure – to learn English and figure out what I wanted to do and how I wanted to live my life. By the time I had my first serious job, I was already considering tattooing as a career and lifestyle.
I began saving my tips and going to studios to get tattooed or getting tattooed at a friend’s house.
I started drawing long before that – I did fashion and creative printmaking – and I bought my first machines out of curiosity to tattoo my friends. I prepared a portfolio and began showing it to a few people and artists in the industry, hoping someone would give me an apprenticeship. And finally, it happened.
How do your tattoos come to life? What do your clients ask you?
Most of my clients give me full freedom to create, and they ask me to design a piece or ornament for a particular placement. Sometimes, we want to give love to an area we like or dislike to love it even more. I do a lot of full fronts, chests, nipples, and butt tattoos, for both men and women. Most people want an original piece they can carry proudly, sometimes with elements they love, like the sun or the moon.
Sometimes, the designs focus on body flow and patterns. These modern ornaments are a contemporary interpretation of patterns from various cultures, such as Indian and Moroccan. I find inspiration in these places where tattoos were made by women for women at very important points or transitions in their lives. Each design is carefully created and executed for the individual.
You say you are interested in exploring different cultures. Would you like to tell me more?
I love to visit these lands and connect with their people and cultures. In the end, not so far from my roots, as we share some similarities. Finding new local artists, getting out of my western world, and stepping out of my comfort zone is something I truly enjoy, as I feel I get to connect on a deeper level with every human I cross paths with, whether on the road or during my daily stroll in a new city.
Where do your inspirations come from?
My inspiration comes from many places, but mostly from my travels. In the space of just a few months, I visit multiple countries, and I get to switch and adapt. I open my travel book, which I’m currently working on, where I simply let the pen flow and create these ornaments around the world to offer something fresh, with the essence of the experience.
Inspiration is in nature, the sea, the sun, and the moon. Inspiration is listening to a song and feeling your heartbeat change.
Inspiration is older civilizations and the elders. Inspiration comes in many forms, and it’s also difficult to find at times, but it’s always there around you if you know where to look.
I’m definitely influenced by the Berber tribes of Morocco, northern Africa, and the Baiga tribe in India. Bold patterns across the body. Choosing placement carefully and focusing on repetition. I love it all. I believe a tattoo should be impactful like that – seen and shown. It’s a statement.
How would you like to describe yourself?
I dream of eventually owning my own little shop by the sea. But my real dream would be to open a juice bar (JUGOS FRESCOS – JUICERIA!!!), with all local fruits, a hand-painted sign, very colorful, by the beach, playing bachata and making juices for the neighborhood with fresh fruits and seasonal vegetables. A very simple, fulfilling job, and of course, I’ll never stop tattooing. But I think I could really enjoy that kind of vibe and be part of a small community.
What are your dreams for the future?
At the moment, I’m travelling and enjoying life this way, and I guess my dreams are to continue doing what I love for as long as I can, to share with people, and to have health and energy. Life is truly a gift.
ॐ ENJOY LIFE ॐ
LOVE, MONKI
