We recently connected with Lu Xin and have shared our conversation below.
Lu, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?
Back in 2012, during my early days as an apprentice, I began exploring the world of creativity. Our approach was personal and hands-on. Clients would come to us with their ideas for tattoos, and we’d sit down together, chatting about what they envisioned. It wasn’t just a transaction; these were real human interactions. Inspired by their stories, I’d sketch a design right then and there, combining their input with my artistic insight. We’d go from idea to reality in a single session, creating a tattoo that was a genuine collaboration — a unique expression of their individual journey, inked with care and respect.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
Entering the tattoo industry under the guidance of a senior from the same art college was a pivotal chapter in my life. What I offer in my craft is a blend of the aspirations of those I tattoo and my emotional responses to them. They provide the seed of an idea, and I nurture it to sprout. This improvisational creation is a form of empathetic, healing artistry. It’s a two-way process that, to me, stands out as my unique path.
I want my clients to understand that a tattoo, as I see it, isn’t merely a statement of the artist’s individual soul. It’s an interactive, isomorphic collaboration. We’re co-creators in this journey. Ignoring the desires and stories of my clients would mean overlooking bursts of inspirational sparks. For instance, a client might provide several elements or ideas. I capture the nuances during our face-to-face interactions—the emotional subtleties, micro-expressions, and the feelings they impart. I then share a rough outline of my creative plan with them, drawing directly from the inspiration they’ve provided, undeniable and potent.
After reaching a preliminary understanding, the real work begins. I delve deeper, refining and enhancing my design. It’s a holistic process, acknowledging that the final creation is as much a part of them as it is an expression of my artistic interpretation. This balance between honoring their narrative and infusing my artistic sensibility is where the true essence of my work lies.
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
It’s a sense of mission, indeed, that keeps me unwaveringly dedicated to each piece I work on. Throughout the preparation process for each work, I immerse myself in various forms of knowledge and ideologies. I believe these experiences seep into my soul, enriching me deeply. Until the end of my earthly journey, these accumulated “spiritual assets” are what I aim to carry forward into another realm.
Material possessions cannot traverse dimensions, but the spirit can. In this lifetime, I strive to accumulate a wealth of spiritual joy that doesn’t rely on tangible assets. For me, that wealth is found in the process of artistic creation. It’s here, in these moments of pure artistry, that I am not merely marking skin but also engraving my journey and its collected wisdom into something timeless. This journey transcends the physical and material, resonating on a frequency that, I believe, persists beyond our physical existence. This commitment, this quest for eternal resonance—this is my mission.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
The most invaluable aspect is indeed expression — conveying a certain spirit or set of values through visual art. It’s about unleashing one’s true nature, unlocking thoughts, and opening up new pathways of understanding. It’s within this liberation that we encounter the most delightful surprises, ones that make perfect sense emotionally, even as they astonish us. This process isn’t just about creating something visually appealing; it’s about manifesting the intangible within the tangible, embodying complex emotions and thoughts in a form that speaks, resonates, and perhaps even heals. The canvas of the skin becomes a story, a testament to a journey of self-discovery and shared human experience, narrated through needles and ink.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lucine_modoink/