Bored Panda reached out to the Korean artist Silo to learn more about the creative process behind her intricate and vibrant tattoo designs. Silo shared with us: “I care a lot about the nature around me. Even the grass on the side of the road is a good inspiration. Recently, when I moved, I had a small garden and started to grow flowers myself. This experience is healing my mind and teaching me more diverse expressions. Based on my admiration and respect for nature, I aim to capture the color and freedom of nature in my artwork.
Additionally, I seek inspiration by observing other art genres and their processes. While art is something you can enjoy in itself, it’s not easy for me to enjoy it with a completely relaxed mind because I’m always looking for something new to learn. When I see the color and freshness of nature, I feel very humbled. I still have a long way to go, so I'm always doing my best.”
The process of covering or transforming old tattoos seems quite challenging. That's why we asked Silo about her approach to cover-up designs that hide unwanted tattoos or turn them into stunning new pieces of art. She shared: “I enjoy doing cover-ups. While getting a tattoo on clean skin offers the freedom to fully express my artistry, cover-ups present a unique challenge. It's about maximizing my skills in a restricted environment, achieving the best results, and ensuring customer satisfaction in these adverse conditions. This process makes me more mature and motivates me to continually improve.
Let me explain based on my style. First of all, the application may vary depending on the genre of the tattoo. Covering up tattoos requires a lot of experience. It's not only important to understand the current color but also to anticipate the results after healing. Successfully covering an old tattoo requires an understanding of how colors interact when they overlap.
For example, if you cover yellow with blue, it becomes greenish-blue. You can also use the dark parts of the old tattoo to create contrast in the new design. Achieving good results depends heavily on this knowledge and experience.
Another crucial aspect is persuading our clients. Many people want to cover their tattoos with bright colors and similar sizes to the original. However, for a successful cover-up, it’s essential to include larger and darker areas. Otherwise, they might be very disappointed. There’s no point in a 'cover-up only' approach. My goal is 'covering it up and making it beautiful.'"
In her work, Silo beautifully captures the essence of elegant Asian art. The artist shared more about the elements she incorporates into her tattoo designs: “Asian culture is very diverse, so I will explain it through the Korean art that influenced me. In Korea, there is a concept called 'the beauty of negative space.' When you look at traditional Korean paintings, you can see many empty areas that do not fill the space. This is a way of expressing fullness by using emptiness, not just leaving it blank. In other words, the negative spaces are also part of the picture. My art also focuses on 'the beauty of negative space.'
For example, this concept is realized by leaving a point in the center of the flower and extending outward. In fact, there is little color on the outside, but through this technique, you can fully appreciate the transparent color and the three-dimensional effect of the flowers. This ‘beauty of negative space’ is the most important part of my art.”
Many women choose the Korean artist Silo to highlight their sophistication and femininity through her tattoos. We were curious about how Silo ensures each tattoo reflects the unique personality and style of her clients. She explained: “I’m always grateful to the customers who visit me. Tattooing is a collaborative process between my client and me, so I believe that thorough consultation before starting is crucial. With sufficient consultation, I can understand exactly what they want. Fortunately, most clients give me broad themes (e.g., flower types) because they trust me completely.
On the appointment day, we meet in person to consider the client's body shape, placement, skin color, etc. I then recommend the best design to make the client stand out the most. Sometimes, the design is modified significantly because 'what you want' and 'what suits you' can be different. This personal interaction is essential. Through this series of processes, my work becomes unique for each individual.”
