KATALIN BERINKEY
Interview: Ákos Bánfalvi
Before Hungarian tattoo artist Katalin Berinkey started tattooing, she was studying graphic
design at the Moholy-Nagy University of Art and Design (MOME). For a major part of her
life, studying design and experimenting tattooing were passions that evolved together. At
first, she thought tattooing was only going to be a cool hobby. It didn’t take too long for her to
fall seriously in love with the craft. In her final years at the university, it became increasingly
difficult for her to develop and put the necessary effort into both artistic paths. When she got
her master’s degree in 2012, she instantly decided to pursue becoming a serious tattoo artist.
However, she credits her background in design for giving her a lot of perception and skills in
tattooing.
When you were a little girl, did you think you would grow up to become an artist or work in the
artistic field? Do you remember drawing and creating a lot as a child?
I was drawing all the time, since I remember. Although in my highschool years, when this habit
concentrated mostly in doodling during classes, I somehow lost track, probably because my
environment pushed me towards pursuing a publicly more appreciated career, like being a
lawyer, or a doctor, or a whatever. But somehow, after my final exams, I realized that I totally
don’t want to be any of those and that I have to go back to my roots and do something with
creativity.
What was your initial exposure to the tattoo world and when did you first add your own piece
of ink to your skin? Was that a transformative time in your life?
Well, once during my studies we got an assignment to redo an identity for some event, and I
chose a rockabilly festival. I was totally amazed by all those old school, traditional motives that
I ran into while discovering the subject. Then I caught myself sketching tattoo art kind of stuff
all the time, and the first tattoo I got was inspired by one of my really early tattoo world inspired
sketches. Later, I told myself that I have to do this on skin myself. I began to look around to
see how I could start studying this type of craft, and I have to say it was not easy. But being
allowed to at least watch and talk to and get advice from some really talented and experienced
artists like Zsolt Sárközi and Csaba Kolozsvári at Dark Art Tattoo in Budapest, Hungary helped
me a lot.
What’s it like being a female artist in a primarily male industry?
I have never experienced any drawback from being a female artist…moreover, I think I got
more help as a girl than I probably would have if I were a guy. This is true especially with
technical stuff, like how to properly set up a coil machine, which is for sure one of the world’s
greatest mysteries! Fortunately, these days, I don’t think it matters that much anymore. The
only thing that counts and makes a difference between tattoo artists, in my opinion, is if you
love what you do and put all you got into it or if you only see tattooing as a trendy job and a
way to make good money.
Do you feel that male customers treat you differently?
Nope. Maybe they try to cry less in front of a girl. (Laughs.)
What did your family and friends think about you getting into the business?
My family (my mom and dad) slowly but luckily have accepted it, and I can say that by now
they are even happy about it because they see that I can go on with this and that I have found
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