Tattooist Sodam - "I cannot repair all of their sorrow and scars, but I hope that my work might alleviate some of their suffering"

The modern art of tattooing is primarily a method of decoration of the human body. Besides this primary purpose, the tattoo is used by many people as a way to cover up scars, which are a poignant reminder of the most difficult moments in life. 

We have already talked more than once about tattooists working in the direction of cover-up tattoos for victims of various surgical operations, traumatic experiences and deepest depressions.

And today, continuing our journey into the world of Korean tattoos, we want to introduce to you an artist who is not only a example of excellent technical and artistic skills, but also a person with a big heart, who understands the problems of modern society and tries to use his talent to change life of people for the better.

Meet Jaemin Oh, better known in the tattoo world as Sodam.

Jaemin, can you tell us a little about yourself? How did it all start for you?

- Hello, my name is Jaemin Oh. I am a Korean tattoo artist that goes by the art name "Sodam." I studied visual design in university and have been a tattoo artist for 16 years. In 2016, I won the 1st runner-up award at the "Sabah international tattoo convention". At the time, I received the award for "Black & Gray" style artwork. However, I am proficient in other styles, and I now primarily portray a distinct form of tattoo.

Prior to becoming a tattoo artist, I worked as a part-time teacher at an art institute while attending university. It was challenging to juggle schoolwork with a part-time job, so I decided to find something that fit my schedule. During the process of looking for new possibilities, a position for tattoo artists working freelance became available. I've always been interested in tattoos, so I figured now would be a good time to try one. At that time, there was no institution in Korea that taught tattooing because tattooing was not prevalent. As fortune would have it, one of my friend's fathers was already a tattoo artist, so I went to him and purchased tattoo equipment and practiced on my own to pursue my lifelong ambition.

How and when did you decide to become a tattoo artist?

- I've been interested in street culture, comics, art, graffiti, graphic design, music, and skateboarding since a young age. In my favorite magazines, they featured prominent rock bands, musicians, and skateboarders who all got tattoos. Naturally, I was introduced to the tattoo culture and desired to create my own magnificent works of art.

Did you have any special training in the art field?

- O sistema acadêmico coreano é bem estabelecido. No oitavo ano, eu queria ser um desenhista de quadrinhos, então entrei em uma academia de quadrinhos para aprender a arte e descobri que podia entrar na universidade através da arte. Na época, as provas de admissão universitária eram realizadas com desenhos de figuras em gesso. Por isso, eu fui pintando e desenhando muitas figuras em escultura. Por isso, eu adoro fazer esculturas em tatuagem. Antes de ter o objetivo de ser um artista de tatuagem, eu aprendi vários programas de gráficos 2D e 3D em uma academia de design da tia minha, e usei essas habilidades para criar designs de tatuagem com frequência.

Tell me where you work now.

- Atualmente, eu trabalho em duas academias separadas. Uma academia privada que eu possuo em Anyang City, bem como "NOMADE TATTOO STUDIO" em Seul.

Let's discuss your portfolio. You have a lot of works in different styles - fine line, miniature, microrealism. What is the main feature of your portfolio, in your opinion? What makes your tattoos truly unique?

- I've been a tattoo artist for a long time, and over the years I've met many clients and experimented with various techniques. As a result of my significant experience, I was able to build a large portfolio, and many customers who saw my artworks sought me out and made repeated visits. This effective method of customer retention allowed me to engage in various long-term endeavors.

My ability to create art projects with my clients and my unique tattoo concepts and designs set me apart from my peers. Historically, the tattoo market was flooded with artists employing clichéd styles. I wanted to express more small, charming, and minimalistic tattoo artworks, and it was very refreshing to many of my clients and just a handful of artists were performing this type of work at the time. In Korea, we refer to this style as "Emotional tattoo," but in many other countries, it is known as "Korean style tattoo."

How to make small and delicate tattoos?

- De fato, pequenas tatuagens são mais desafiadoras para criar. Elas exigem respiração suave, movimentos da mão estáveis e uma grande concentração no extremo da agulha para desenhar partes pequenas com precisão laser. Cada peça de arte requer horas de minha atenção total e serenidade. Após o trabalho, estou exausto e esgotado, mas quando estou no processo de concluir uma peça de arte, sinto uma grande alegria e realização.

Qual é a coisa mais importante quando faz uma design?

- Para determinar a design e a direção do conceito, tenho conversas extensas com meus clientes. Prefiro encontrar os clientes pessoalmente e projetar com eles do que corresponder por mensagem. Ao projetar pessoalmente, construímos confiança e conseguimos nos conectar um com o outro, resultando em uma experiência geral excelente. Não quero pensar nas tatuagens como apenas imagens. Elas devem ser o melhor e mais significativo presente que posso oferecer aos meus clientes, pois ficarão com eles para sempre.

You shared with us that you give free tattoos to people who have scarred themselves. Tell us more about this charity project. Why are you doing this?

- Self-injury has become an issue in Korean culture. In the past, scar covering services were occasionally requested by consumers. Most of them attempted self-harm as adolescents, and they frequently came to hide their scars. However, as time passed, I received more inquiries of this nature and discovered that a greater number of young people committed self-harm and suicide than I had anticipated. The suicide rate in Korea is the highest among OECD countries. Suicide is the leading cause of mortality for Korean adolescents and young adults between the ages of 15 and 30. As a result of speaking with many of my clients who were experiencing a difficult time in their lives, I decided to offer free tattoos in the hopes that my small gesture would be the start of a new beginning for them. I am aware that I cannot repair all of their sorrow and scars, but I hope that my work might alleviate some of their suffering.

Are there any works that you are truly proud of? Can you tell about them?

- Todos os meus trabalhos artísticos são significativos para mim, mas os trabalhos vencedores do concurso são os que me deixam mais orgulhoso. É uma obra de arte de muito tempo atrás, e o estilo é completamente diferente do que represento agora, mas é o mais significativo porque levou muito tempo para criar. Peças de tatuagem grandes permitem movimentos mais fáceis das mãos do que peças pequenas e intricadas, mas seu tamanho tem seus próprios desafios. Tenho muitas memórias do meu cliente que participou, e temos comunicação frequente. Eu quero usar essa oportunidade para agradecer novamente ao cliente que me acompanhou na Malásia.

Quem são seus clientes? Há muitos estrangeiros entre seus fãs?

- Meus clientes principais são mulheres. As clientes femininas preferem meu estilo pequeno e minimalista. No entanto, à medida que a indústria de tatuagem cresce, os clientes masculinos estão se interessando por tatuagens de linha fina com conceitos geométricos e designs de microrealismo. Mais frequentemente, estrangeiros que vivem na Coreia também visitam-me. Há muitos estrangeiros com interesse na cultura coreana e estudantes que vêm aprender coreano. Estou também continuando minhas atividades internacionais, o que me permite conhecer uma variedade maior de clientes de diferentes culturas.

How often do you travel for work? Where else can your fans sign up for a session with you?

- I occasionally travel to various locations for business, which I enjoy because I love traveling. Initially, it was difficult for me to retain concentration due to the unfamiliar situations and my anxiety at being out of my comfort zone. But as I gained familiarity and adapted, I was able to effortlessly overcome it. It is both a pleasure and an honor to be able to work on my tattoos in different locations. Memories are created when I meet new clients and new coworkers who share the same passions and aspirations. This is why I believe that becoming a tattoo artist is such an attractive profession.

Do you have plans that you want to share? Where can we see you in the near future?

- Embora ainda não tenha sido confirmado, estou preparado para viajar para o exterior para oferecer meus trabalhos artísticos a clientes interessados. Quero alcançar meu objetivo de vida em um mercado mais amplo fora de minha zona de conforto na Coreia. Estou pronto e disposto a assumir uma nova tarefa antes de envelhecer e fazer uma nova viagem para o próximo capítulo da minha vida. Não sei a data exata, mas estou preparando passo a passo. Atualmente, estou residindo na Coreia, então, se você estiver interessado em me encontrar, sabe onde me procurar. Por favor, visite a Coreia e tenha uma experiência direta.