That is “TYPE 01 / Blue Dragon,” one of many bigger works by XAMO.
This 29-year-old Seoul native goes by the identify XAMO (pronounced “SAME-O”). He’s trilingual (French, English, and Korean) and majored in French language and literature at Gachon College in 2014. His time spent working and dwelling in Europe, significantly Paris, supplied him with a large understanding of the humanities. The French metropolis’s attract with Jean-Michel Basquiat is more likely to have influenced XAMO. Basquiat, an American artist of Puerto Rican and Haitian descent, was a pacesetter within the Nineteen Eighties neo-expressionist motion; a way of spontaneity distinguishes his artwork, energetic compositions with daring colours, and the repeated use of textual content and recurring symbols (crowns, skulls, and dinosaurs), all of which XAMO incorporates into his tattoos. (Attention-grabbing truth: “SAMO” was additionally Basquiat’s graffiti tag signature.)
In 2018, XAMO determined to pursue tattooing as a method to meet his need to journey, meet people from various backgrounds, and enhance his publicity to international modern artwork. He has already been to Brussels, Amsterdam, Berlin, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and “I’ve spent essentially the most time in London. I really guest-spotted at Sans Patrie Studio in each 2023 and 2024, and ultimately turned a resident artist after transferring to England.” He’s nonetheless eager to discover alternatives for visitor spots within the areas of America and Oceania.
On this interview with Scene360, XAMO covers his early years dwelling abroad, his current and future tattooing type, and his fascination with soccer.
XAMO, when he was a little bit boy dwelling in Paris, France.
The place had been you born, and the place else have you ever lived?
I used to be born and raised in Seoul, South Korea. Whereas I spent most of my childhood there, I additionally had a number of experiences dwelling overseas rising up. For instance, from 2nd to 4th grade of main college, I lived in Paris with my household for about two years and attended an area French college. My mother and father had each studied in France for about eight years and at the moment are instructing French and European historical past, so we moved there quickly attributable to their work. That have allowed me to study French naturally at a younger age.
In sixth grade, I spent a couple of semester (round 4 to six months) in Winnipeg, Canada, dwelling with an area host household [part of a cultural exchange program]. It was my first time dwelling overseas alone. My mother and father despatched me there to enhance my English and achieve worldwide expertise. My host household spoke each English and French, so I had the possibility to apply each languages much more. After that, I stayed in Korea via center college, highschool, and college.
In 2016–2017, my household moved to Austin, Texas, for a yr attributable to my father’s work (as a analysis professor). And because the summer season of 2024, I’ve been dwelling in London, England. I’m very shut with my mother and father and nonetheless discuss to them virtually daily. They’ve at all times supported me in no matter I wished to do, they usually raised me to be open-minded and interested by totally different cultures. Because of them, I’ve felt free in my life and profession, which I really need.
Stravinsky Fountain, with sculptures by Jean Tinguely and Niki de Saint Phalle, is the tattooer’s favourite spot in Paris.
You began tattooing in 2018; have you ever been captivated by the work of any specific inventive people?
The primary time I bear in mind being really amazed by a chunk of artwork was after I noticed the work of Salvador Dalí. I used to be a baby with no specific curiosity or data in artwork, however throughout a household journey to Europe, we visited Dalí’s home museum [Portlligat, Cadaqués, Catalonia] in Spain. His surreal, dreamlike works left a powerful impression on me. Since then, I’ve at all times been extra drawn to surreal and imaginative artwork relatively than hyper-realistic or purely representational types.
Afterward, the artist who had essentially the most affect on me was Jean-Michel Basquiat. After discovering his work, I slowly began drawing, which ultimately led to my tattooing type. That’s why I contemplate him one of the crucial essential influences in my creative journey. I really like the hidden meanings, particulars, and doodle-like components in his work. They’re visually thrilling and open to interpretation. I even visited his grave after I traveled to New York.
I additionally benefit from the works of artists like Joan Cornellà, MC Escher, and Austin Lee.
Basquiat’s T-Rex (representing energy and vulnerability) has been depicted in tattoo type by XAMO.
Your tattoos lend a scrapbook-like, scribble look. Had been you beforehand sketching this on paper or a pill?
After I first bought focused on tattooing, I already had a transparent thought of the form of type I wished to work in. I’ve at all times been drawn to that uncooked, doodle-like feeling, virtually like scribbling on prime of or round a picture. To start with, I used to attract in sketchbooks, however now I primarily work on the iPad. It’s a lot sooner, and it permits me to discover totally different textures and experiment with combining varied components extra freely.
Technically, I’ve been tattooing for fairly some time, however I nonetheless really feel like I’m within the means of discovering the proper stability. If the work is simply too summary and messy, it could possibly really feel overwhelming, but when it’s too detailed, it doesn’t really feel like my type.
Over time, my preferences have modified too; sure textures, colours, and components I exploit evolve as I develop. My type will proceed to shift in small methods, however the core type will keep the identical. What issues most to me is that when somebody sees my work, they will instantly acknowledge it as my work, not due to a selected character or repeated motif, however as a result of the general type carries a transparent id.
A memento of 1’s tenting journey.
Is there a reputation for this artwork type?
It’s truthfully arduous for me to label my type in a transparent, fastened manner. I’d say it falls someplace between illustrative, summary, and surreal. However inside these classes, it isn’t straightforward to pinpoint a selected label. Perhaps it’s an ignorant type, possibly it’s illustrative, possibly summary, or surreal types? I’m unsure. Maybe I’ll name it “my type,” haha.
The artist is freehanding his composition round present tattoos.
Relating to the themes of your work and the place you envision your tattoo type heading.
So about 80–90% of my work has been customized designs based mostly on my purchasers’ private tales. This exhibits that my type has develop into established sufficient for individuals to hunt me out particularly for it. And at occasions, I do really feel that the course of a chunk might be led totally by the shopper’s theme. So I need to dedicate extra time to non-public tasks, designs, and concepts that come purely from me. Up till now, I’ve spent a lot time creating customized items that I haven’t had sufficient room to experiment and broaden my type.
I’ve been exploring layering random iPhone emojis to create new compositions. I’ve additionally developed an curiosity in American old-school tattoo types [i.e., the overall shapes and color palettes], and I’d wish to reinterpret these traditional and classic designs [like old postcards, posters, patterns, and historic architecture] in my very own manner. As soon as that’s accomplished, I’m not precisely certain what shall be subsequent.
Aliens whizzing by the enduring Eiffel Tower.
How a lot do you stencil and freehand?
I usually get purchasers who need to embellish round their present tattoos or fill in empty areas. In these circumstances, I often work freehand. Additionally, after I use a stencil, if there are areas that really feel a bit empty or want one thing extra, I add freehand components to finish the composition—so about 80% stencil and 20% freehand. However these days, I’ve been doing increasingly more freehand additions, and I’d like to discover that course much more sooner or later.
Making use of the purple birthmarks within the design of the tattoo.
Would your ideally suited profession have been to be a soccer participant in case you hadn’t been a tattoo artist?
I do love soccer (soccer), however I’m unsure I might’ve chosen it as a profession. For me, it’s extra of a passion watching video games, having fun with and supporting the tradition, and enjoying with pals. But when I ever had the possibility to work for the membership I help, that could be a distinct story!
You may study and develop out of your travels, and in addition discover pleasure in sporting a bodily reminder of your adventures.
What soccer membership do you help?
Arsenal. I’m an enormous fan of this membership. It’s one of many causes that I made a decision to maneuver to London. (After I moved to London, my flat was 1 min from the stadium!)
Images © XAMO
