Bali Tattoo Artist : Shotonk

Shotonk started knowing tattoo when he was only a junior high school student. Because of his drawing ability, a friend lent him his equipment and body to be the learning means. “Almost all over his body is full of my works,” Shotonk said.

A buffalo head was Shotonk’s first work on the body of Kadek Suardika, his friend. He said it was ugly and in disorder, but he always practiced on his friend’s body ever since. After he was confident enough, in 1998 he opened his own tattoo studio in Singaraja. But it was only a year before he decided to move to Kuta.

At first in Kuta, Shotonk became a temporary tattoo artist in Matahari Mall Legian. Then he reopened his own studio named Bulldog Tattoo in Kuta Square, but unfortunately it only lasted for a year. After that, Shotonk joined in Legian 64 studio, then moved to Mr. Barong, and finally went back to Legian 64 for 7 years before he again opened Shotonk Tattoo Studio. He decided to run a private studio because he thought it was impossible to work for someone else forever, also it was about time for him learning to be responsible of his own future. Up to now, he still keeps in touch with his old friends in Legian 64. Even when he was asked about the person who had a big influence in his career as a tattoo artist, hard for him to answer. “Some people have influenced me, but mostly Agung. We became partners for quite a long time..,” he answered.

In the middle of his activities as a tattoo artist, Shotonk always has some time to go back to his hometown, Singaraja, every twice a month to see his 4 children. It has been 3 years he becomes a single parent.

And in the end of the interview with Magic Ink, Shotonk shared his hope that all tattoo artists keeping up the quality in order to make tattoo as one tourism attraction, so together they can grow the art of tattoo. To Magic Ink, he wanted us to support each other. “If we support people, they will support us, too. There is karma in it..,” he ended that afternoon conversation.