We were lucky to catch up with Marina Inoue recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Marina, thanks for joining us today. Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.

I was taught through a traditional tattoo apprenticeship where I first started in a tattoo shop as an assistant, and after some years entered into an apprentice role.

The entry into tattooing in a traditional manner has been historically gatekept by straight, cis, white men. Apprenticeships have been known to be abusive and rife with extreme power dynamics between the teacher and the student, especially if the students identities are marginalized at all- and that’s if they are even able to get a foot in the door in the first place. Things have shifted and changed over the years, thankfully, and there are more resources for people who want to get into the business but have found these issues to be keeping them out of the industry. I’ve been thankful to see that change.

That being said, there is no fast track to learning how to tattoo. It is a practice that holds a lot of history, a lot of weight, and I personally think it is important to move slowly, to take the time to learn the craft but to also learn respect for the craft. It’s not just about us as tattooers.

Marina, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I have been a tattooer for 16 years. I started in New York City at a shop called Flyrite, in Brooklyn. I grew up going to punk and hardcore shows, and always saw people with tattoos. I knew from a young age that I wanted to be tattooed, and as I got older and more into drawing and art, discovered that being a tattooer was what I wanted to do. I had other jobs before, but I started working in a shop at 19, which was 18 years ago now, so it’s been my whole adult life. I got into the industry in a time before the internet was utilized, before social media, and that definitely forced a style of learning that was very involved and analogue. Drawing on paper, looking through books, asking people questions in person, being shown hands on. That’s not to say that it is a better way of learning, but it was certainly very in depth and a lot of work.

I’m constantly learning and evolving in my work- sometimes other things feel more important to me than tattooing, and other times it feels like the most important thing. Being around the people I work with at Mercy currently has been deeply influential for me and has encouraged growth in my own art and practice just by osmosis, which I am so grateful for.

There are many, many tattooers in the industry nowadays, and you can find someone who can give you whatever tattoo you want if you research hard enough. I’m not sure I know what sets me apart from everyone else, but I’ve been here for a long time, and I care deeply about my work.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

There is an inherent need in me to make things with my hands. To create something out of nothing is the most rewarding thing I can think of- you start with an idea, and go through a process to bring it to life, and all of a sudden you have a tangible thing you can look at and hold in your hands. To me, that is incredible and deeply satisfying.

The other thing I am so deeply grateful for is flexibility with time. I am able to adjust my schedule as needed, which is a massive privilege. Of course, if I don’t work I am not making money, but at times it is worth it to make less money so I can live life a little more.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

I wish there was more socialized support as far as insurance, retirement, taxes etc goes. People who work for themselves are taxed more, insurance is not subsidized at all, and there is very little structure and support for people to figure out how to create savings and retirement. You are afforded flexibility and freedom as a person who works for themselves, but there is also very little stability. If you’re sick or hurt and need to stop working to recover, you don’t have support through that, you know? That kind of stuff scary.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: marina_inoue

Image Credits
Marquis Serna