Interview
Mehr über die chinesische Tätowiererin Zhang Hong Mei Zi aus einem Interview von 2007.
If you want to know more about the chinese Tattoo Artist "Zhang Hong Mei" (chin. 张洪梅), called "Mei Zi" (chin. 梅子), you can find here some answers.
Firstly, could you write something about your beginning as a tattoo artist? How did you learn to make tatoos?
I like drawing when i was child. I have some artist friends. Most time i learning by myself untill i meet Paul booth. He teach me nearly one month about drawing and tattooing.
How old are you and how long are you a tattoo artist?
I am 27 years old. nearly 4years.
Did you have some difficulties to become a tattoo artist? If yes, what kind of difficulties?
Of course have. Because i am a female. Not so strong as man.
Did you have a tattoo master? Who had the biggest influence of your work?
I think Paul booth teach me a lot thing in a short time. And also Toxcy who work for Paul. But i think i am still need learning from all artist. I also hope have my own style.
What was your first Tattoo?
It is a Chinese TaiJi for a foreigner. After tattooing he ask me "what is ur English name?" I told him. He said "U need change name Spring. Because u can give people spring weather feeling, even tattooing is painful "From this time my english name is Spring.
What was you doing before you was becoming a Tattoo artist?
I am a English receiver in a design company .
What did you study?
My first major in University is English International trade. Second major is Chinese painting.
What kind of tattoos do you like to make? What styles you prefere? And why?
Chinese dragon,and Chinese word .Because it representatives of Chinese culture.But Chinese traditional drawing is not so three-dimentional as western.So hope can mix western style with Chinese culture.I like Paul's work. Because he not only have mature tattooing skill also have amazing design.
What are your techniques of tattooing?
Practice and practice again never stop.
What is the history of your work in tattoo studios? In how many studios did you work until now?
I alway have my own studio in Beijing China. Except my studio I only work in Paul booth studio more than one month.
What is the history of your current studio? How everything started and when?
My studio is beside most busy bar street in Beijing China around there have 20 different embassy. My customer is almost from different country.It move here almost 3years,before is other location.
Do you work in your studio alone? If not, could you write something about the others in your studio? How many helpers in the studio, how many other tattoo artist?
Normally only myself tattooing here. But also have a America girl as assistance and sometime student coming learning from me.
What are your achievements and rewards?
I hope i can go to different country tattoo convention,learning from different artist ,know different country culture.
Also bring Chinese tattoo culture to other country.Invite some other country's artist coming China communicate
with Chinese artist. Develop Chinese tattoo art culture. Hoping China tattoo can be more international.
What has been the most satisfying experience in your profession?
I can learning from Paul and Toxcy. I can won "tattoo Queen Berlin 2008" title.
How many tattoo convention you was visiting until now? Which did you visit and why these?
- Tattoo show in China
- Snow tattoo in China
- Berlin tattoo convention in Germany
- NY Biggest tattoo convention in America
Those convention is famous all have a lot every good artist coming ,so i can have chance learning more.
Which tattoo convention you want to go in future?
I want go to different country saw different art i never saw before. Of course i also would like visiting Germany and America again.
What is a convention for you?
I think a tattoo convention a good chance for me to communicate with different country's tattoo artist. Culture change and have contact with them.
Which of world tattoo artist you hold in high esteem? Which you value mostly and why?
The boss of all style tattoo in Berlin. She is female tattoo artist ,but doing very good colorful work. Normal people thinking tattoo artist must a big man have a lot tattoo on body. Female tattoo artist can not doing good work. I want say this is not right. We need to break this kind thinking. Tattoo is most beautiful art, which can make people more beautiful and sexy. We also need female tattoo artist create the beautiful skin art. Paul value most. Because he teach me ,encourage me "u will be a innovators."
What is a tattoo for you? Art? Culture? Subculture?
I think tattoo is most deep memory art which can representative all different kind of culture. It is forever for every customer. One international tattoo artist must have art cell who also need know a lot of different culture from different country. All art picture and culture picture all can be a nice tattoo. Different culture also can be have own style tattoo.
Do you have any disadvantages to be a tattoo artist? If yes, which disadvantages?
I am Chinese tattoo artist difficult to get visa traveling other country for tattoo convention.
What are your interested beside tattoos?
Listening different country's music, dancing, drawing, visiting some art place.
If you could not be a tattoo artist, what would you like to to or to be?
I would like to be a painting artist live beside bitch or frost in a wooden house,drawing .Or became a language teacher teach foreigner Chinese and Chinese culture.
What are your planes for the future?
I want traveling more country have more contact with other country's tattoo artist. Hope can open Chinese style tattoo studio in other country.In this studio will use all Chinese thing for decoration and have Chinese artist and other country's artist working together.
As a child you want to be like ...?
I often drawing a lot Chinese ancient fair fly in sky ,i was hope one day be a fair, very pure dream...
How can you best to relax?
Sleeping or long shower.
What was your most beautiful lust purchase?
Open a chinese tattoo chain store in different country.
Where would you like to be a secondary residence?
Until now i only traveling America and Germany, i like both.
What can you cook well?
Chinese dish.Dumpling. Fry green been with spice pork. I also can make some western food like vegetable salad and potato salad. Hope traveling more country learning more different cook.
Who is your favorite actress, who is your favorite actor?
The the main actor in 'prison break". He has high IQ and whose spirit for his brother to got the whole body tattoo.
What others say about you?
Some people think i am crazy a little woman have so much big dream.But i do not care about other how say about me.I just want to do some thing value in my life.Because life is short and fragile.
What do you dislike most about yourselfe?
I a little Chinese woman when i am traveling to other country for convention.The suitcase is more big than me so heavy.
What do you like most about yourself?
I can speak English and Chinese two language, also can drawing and tattooing.
What drives you? What gives you strength to do?
First i think is i like make tattoo for other people,bring nice thing for other people skin forever. It is really can give me satisfaction every time when i finish a nice tattoo for customer. I have several international friends who know my dream encourage me and help me a lot.Chinese tattooing need develop must have contact with other country artist. I have some basic thing to do this.So i think i must try my best to do it.After "America NJ Biggest tattoo convention " and "Berlin convention" I meet a lot very good tattoo artist who also interesting about Chinese culture.Paul booth also teach me a lot who really let me make sure i am right to do this way. In Berlin convention i won "tattoo queen " also give me big strength to continue tattooing in my life.