SANTA PERPETUA
Interview: Ákos Bánfalvi
Lili Gomez Fernandez a.k.a. Santa Perpetua’s path in the
tattoo world didn’t come just from tattooing. She’s a fine art
illustrator and graphic designer. Working for a long time as a
designer (22 years now), her career in the tattoo world started
in 2008, under the teaching of her tattoo master, Eduardo
Sasía (Evolucion Tattoo in Montevideo, Uruguay). During the
years, Santa has condensed all of her knowledge about design
and art into the subject of tattooing.
“I think having this kind of artistic and graphic background has
helped and conditioned the way in which I do my tattoo artwork
now. I also studied Communication Sciences and I have
worked as a graphic designer and photographer for companies
such as L’Oreal, Coca Cola, Nike, Madpoint, Freeriderzine,
Coup de Fouet, Descord and El PaÌs Cultural, among others.”
You’re a tattooist from Barcelona born in Montevideo.
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?
Well, I can’t exactly remember when I did start in the artistic
field. My mother is an artist too. She makes fine art paintings
and tapestry, so I literally grew up between oils, brushes, art
books, canvases, wool and silken cords, and looms. Without
any doubt, that was a fire mark on my education. I was
constantly reading about pictorial styles and artist biographies.
And drawing! Since my very early childhood, I remember
myself drawing, and during my teenage years, starting the
search of my style and way to express my feelings and ideas.
I have this in my blood so I’ve never thought, even having to
work many random jobs to make ends meet, that I wouldn’t be
an artist. If you’ve got this on your inside, if you really feel it, if
you vibrate with it, and if this is the only way in which you can
connect with yourself deep inside, I think you are! Art is not just
a formal degree from a university, it’s a way of life and thinking
that transforms you as a human. It comes from you and only
you, I reckon even when you don’t have complete and formal
management of technical skills.
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?
When I was 21, I got my first tattoo done. I didn’t like them
before! (Laughs.) During the ’90s, none of the tattoo artworks
I saw convinced me to get any done. But one day, I felt the
need to have a memorial mark on my skin, so I designed a little
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drawing and I got it done. In many cases, you decide to get a
tattoo to represent the closure of a term in your li fe, to mark the
beginning of another, or to have a permanent memory about
something. In my case, it was more or less the same. I’ve got
my memory since then, and without realising it in that moment,
I had the primal mark of the most important period in my life
now. Since I got my first tattoo, my artistic interest in this world
became bigger and bigger, but it was only several years ago
that I could make that wish come true.
What is it like being a female artist in a primarily male
worksite?
Well, I think it’s like being a female professional in any field!
(Smiles.) Some times are harder than others, but to be honest,
I tend to not pay much attention to being a woman in a world of
men. I really don’t care. I think my art speaks for itself beyond
my gender, and with that, I get a lot done. Yes, sometimes my
customers are confused because before they meet me, they
think I am a guy. That’s funny for both of us! But apart from this
and with a couple of little anecdotes that probably everyone
has under their belt, being a woman didn’t make the ride easier
or harder. My road has been pretty thorny but more due to
other circumstances in life (above everything economics) rather
than my gender, and I survived them, so I am happy and very
grateful for that. The colleagues I work and was working with
have been awesome, friendly, and helpful so I can’t complain at
all about this world.
Do you feel that male customers treat you differently?
Do you mean if my clients fall in love with me because of the
fact of being a tattoo artist? I have no idea… Maybe! (Laughs.)
Well, talking seriously now from my view, everyone (men and
women) who comes to Black Sails Tattoo to get a piece done
by me, does so because of the nature of my artwork and the
way in which we address them. I love creating custom pieces.
I love doing my own stuff but I also do love interpreting the
thoughts and feelings of my customers into a tattoo art piece.
That’s a challenge for me all the time! And I love challenging
myself.
What did your family and friends think about you getting
into the business?
Well, for my mother, that was a quite natural step from my
professional background. She always encouraged me to do
whatever I felt is the best for me in every field of life, so she
was more than happy for me to do it. In fact, since I am doing
that, her interest and respect about this
world increased. The same with my friends!
All of them are very supportive people and
they know very well the kind of person I
am. All of them know how stubborn (in the
good sense) and hard working I am when
a good project comes to my mind. In fact,
even if they tried to persuade me to not get
into this business, I wouldn’t have listened
if I felt it was the right thing to do in my life.
They know how much passion I put into all
the things I do, so I can say that they are
happy and proud of me for being at that
point now. And I can’t be more grateful to
all of them for being an essential part of
my life.
Can you tell us more about the shop,
Black Sails Tattoo in Brighton, UK you
work at and what it’s like working there?
Black Sails Tattoo is the best shop ever!
I really love working there; it is like my
second home! The crew is lovely and
such a great professionals! There are two
shops now. In the Brighton one, we have
three artists: Lisa Arietti, who is pretty
new in the tattoo world but does stunning
dotwork pieces, Dolly Plunkett who rocks
the traditional style, and me. In the Lewes
shop, Dan Arietti with his absolutely
stunning and powerful Japanese tattoos
and Harry Robbins doing amazing black
and grey pieces. We are like a small family
here. I can’t be more happy to meet them
all. Awesome people!
Describe how you go about creating a
tattoo from concept to finished design,
as well as how you try to put your own
unique touch on your tattoos.
My touch? I really don’t know where it
comes from! I think every artist has his/
“ART IS NOT JUST A
FORMAL DEGREE
FROM A UNIVERSITY,
IT’S A WAY OF LIFE
AND THINKING THAT
TRANSFORMS YOU
AS A HUMAN…”
- SANTA PERPETUA
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