(Silvia Andretti) It is definitely not a matter of fashion: the art of tattooing is almost as ancient as the history of the man. What’s more, choosing to mark permanently on the skin doesn’t conjugate with transition, which is a main feature of all fashions.
Obviously, sooner or later, some people regret a tattoo made “frivolously”, but it’s more about the ones that have made a true work of art with their bodies that is worth to inquiry.
Meeting Christina Boatta represents the first step of a short journey among palermitan tattooers and piercers. To learn about local trends, techniques and styles, but most of all the intention is to discover who stands behind a so unusual and fascinating job.
How does someone become a tattoo artist?
Nowadays, many will answer to that question in the same way: “I saw an adv in a magazine about tattoo making tools and I’ve wanted to try it”. When I started doing tattoos, specialized magazine did not even exist. My tattooing passion started right after meeting some “old-fashioned way” tattooed people.
A tattooer and a tattooed are two very different kind of things. Being a tattooer means to have ethic, a will to grow artistically and enough motivation to develop, if possible, your own personal style.
Ethic?
Ethic also means to know when to say “no” to someone asking for a tattoo you are not convinced: it might be because of the subject or because you have the feeling that what is being asked to you is a bullshit, and you don’t want to be part of a wrong choice. To have ethic is essential to undertake this job and goes far beyond keeping the required conditions of health and hygiene.
How does the world of tattoo seem to you in Palermo?
With just a few exceptions, I believe that provincialism is built-in the palermitan genes. If you manage to get out from the same mechanism you can also grow artistically, otherwise you stay sucked in the same limbo. There, you can also reach fine levels but without progressing. I’ve been dealing with tattoos for twenty years, but I can affirm that I’ve turned in what I am now just five years ago. And it happened as soon as I started joining Italian and European conventions, having the opportunity to exchange with other artists. As long as you remain limited, shutting yourself up, your can achieve good results but you won’t move forward.
Up till some years ago, tattoo was seen as a taboo in Italy. What has changed?
It wasn’t a taboo at the beginning. Italy is traditionally a country of sailors, and they were the firsts to bring tattoos in our land. Probably, the Vatican made it a taboo during the centuries. Anyway, it’s been almost ten years now since tattooed soccer player and showgirls started to popularize on TV. In same way, tattoo has been socially accepted.
There is something like tattoo styles? Special kind of tattoos?
Even if the tattoer is basically a craftsman – setting the design and kind of work with the future tattooed- the tattoo itself is an art form. Therefore, there aren’t style or size limits. Figurative, realistic, oriental, tribal, traditional..personally I’m trying to specialize in realistic style which gives me more satisfaction.
Is there a link between the burlesque revival and tattoos?
Young girls drawing inspiration from the 50’s could be considered as the housewives of the future as burlesque draws from the imaginary of neat and well dressed postwar housewives. But Betty Page didn’t have tattoos. On the contrary, at that time tattooed women just worked in circus. I suppose it’s a modernity print that keeps us with the times: we aren’t living in the 50’s anymore but in the new millennium.
Who is Christian when you step outside the studio?
I’m a much more “standard” person than you would imagine. I work and I have fun, and sometimes I get drunk with my friends (but just with the good ones). Anyway, the most of my time is dedicated to my family. I work with my wife Rita who has always stood by me, helping me through all those years. All I have managed to succeed in is because of her.
And the children?
My kids were born here. Two out of tree have already tried the tattoo experience. Not on their skins- otherwise I would be totally crazy- but at eight they wanted to try to tattoo on synthetic skins. When at school their teachers ask “What do you want to be when you will grow up”, one answers “a piercer” and the other “a tattooer”.
And how is the relationship with those teachers?
Oh well, just yesterday I’ve tattooed one of my son’s teachers. Nowadays, the walls have fallen down: I daily tattoo professional, doctors, outstanding professors, exponents of the security force. In sum, the convict is no more coming to me. Maybe I’m too expensive!
(translated by Maia Lo Mauro)
