In our small, close-knit tattoo industry, people genuinely feel happy when someone’s new style or series of works suddenly “takes off” – it really feels like everyone shares that success. So when we saw that Sergo Akopyan, whose growth we’ve been following since 2020, suddenly went viral with tattoos in a completely new direction for him, our first impulse was to figure it out: who are these characters, what is this technique, and why does it resonate with people so much?
Sergo has been tattooing since 2013 and has devoted almost his entire career to academic realism – portraits of people, animals, and characters. That’s why it’s even more fascinating that he so boldly shifted to a warm, deliberately non-brutal style of “knitted” amigurumi toys. At the same time, his experience is visible in every piece: the technical complexity, level of detail, and realism are still there – they’ve just taken on a new form.
Sergo, how did the idea for your first “knitted” Totoro come about? Was it your idea or a client’s request?
— The idea appeared two years ago, when my wife Elsa showed me Tatiana Korobkova’s book «Cute, Warm and Funny» – with stunning illustrations of knitted toys. Elsa is into knitting, helps me prepare the designs correctly from the point of view of stitches and fabric structure, and in general she is my main muse.
At that moment I realized that this style could be translated into tattooing. Despite the technical difficulty – small size, thin stitches – I really wanted to try it. We thought for a long time about who the first character should be. Elsa suggested Totoro, and it turned out to be the perfect choice: charismatic, not overloaded with details, and great for experimenting with this new technique.
Are clients now massively asking you to work in this style? Which characters are at the top?
— Yes, there are a lot of requests now! Characters from movies, TV shows, cartoons, and famous musicians are especially popular. It’s very nice to see that people feel connected to these pieces and want to wear such original tattoos.
Was there a moment when you realized: “That’s it, this is a new direction in my style”?
— The switch happened when I showed the first “knitted” tattoos to my colleagues. The guys from Magnum studio immediately said: «This is your new style.» Then I posted the works on social media and got a powerful response – it became clear that this wasn’t just an experiment, but a new and genuinely in-demand direction. I felt that I had found a new path.
How abrupt was the transition from brutal realism to knitted amigurumi tattoos?
— The transition wasn’t as abrupt as it might look from the outside. I started experimenting with knitted texture back in 2022, when I did a bear in a knitted hat. That was the first time I managed to convey the knitting texture, and it opened up a new perspective. So Amigurumi became a logical continuation: just the next, deeper level.
Who would you personally like to “knit” next?
— Right now I’m working on designs of characters from the movie «The Gentlemen» – Michael Pearson and Coach. At the same time, I’m creating a sleeve with legendary musicians: Ozzy Osbourne, Elvis Presley, and Angus Young. There are many ideas, and with this kind of support from clients and friends, I can bring them to life without limits.
Do you think you’ve created something unique – or is it more of an evolution of existing techniques?
— I think there is something unique in these works, although I’m not sure I invented the style from scratch. It’s possible that someone before me tried simpler amigurumi designs. But since I love detail, I managed to do it on a more complex level.
Recently someone commented that my pieces are «the next level of patches.» And I think that artists who work with patch-effect tattoos, after seeing my work, will also start exploring this new approach. That’s great – every new idea makes the tattoo world richer and more diverse.
Is this a long journey for you, or a “here and now” phase that you’re just enjoying?
— I’m sure this is a long and exciting journey. I see a lot of opportunities to develop this style – I have ideas on how to expand and deepen it, add new elements, and make the result even more distinctive. But the details will stay a secret for now. It’s the search for new solutions that inspires me.
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