The 16th Tattoofest Convention in Krakow is now part of history! We thank the artists for their presence and tremendous effort put into each tattoo, models for their perseverance, jurors for their integrity, partners for their reliability, visitors for the massive turnout, and our special zone and Dialogue Zone guests for their openness and shared knowledge.
You are wonderful, and with your energy and positive attitude, you reaffirm our belief that our work is worth it. Heartfelt thanks to all artists, exhibitors, partners, and tattoo enthusiasts for the incredible and unforgettable days during Tattoofest 2023 in Krakow! Your creativity, dedication, and enthusiasm made this event spectacular and wonderful.
We are immensely grateful for your presence and participation in a festival that continues to grow and evolve.
We can’t wait for the next edition! We already invite you to Tattoofest 2024, which will take place on June 15-16. It will be another unforgettable opportunity for meeting, sharing passion, and discovering new inspirations.
As a summary, we recommend the July issue of Tattoofest Magazine, entirely dedicated to the 16th edition of the festival. This title was created to support the festival’s promotion and, over 16 years, has developed its beautiful history. During this time, the magazine hosted thousands of artists, presenting their development and supporting their endeavors. It also introduced visual creators, musicians, enthusiasts, and many other individuals, covering almost 200 different industry and non-industry events.
The July issue is a historic edition as it marks the final release of this title. It is also the most extensive among previous editions. You will find a detailed report on the sixteenth edition of the Tattoofest Convention. The first part of the magazine takes you on a journey through the festival’s reality – a walk through zones and a gallery of award-winning works.
If you didn’t have the opportunity to personally attend the festival or would like to experience that atmosphere again, we highly recommend reading the materials prepared with our guests: Sławomir Frączek, Radosław Błaszczyński, Piotr Miecznikowski, Beata Kwaśniewska, and the creators of the Tattoo Championship. They all played a role in creating the atmosphere of this year’s festival.
Don’t miss this special opportunity! We invite you to explore the latest issue of Tattoofest Magazine and derive joy from fascinating stories and visual inspirations.
The magazine can be downloaded using the following links:
Mobile version: cutt.ly/TF192
Desktop version: cutt.ly/deskTF192
Congratulations to all the artists who were awarded at Tattoofest 2023!
Your tattoos have amazed and earned recognition not only from the judges but also from the audience. We would like to sincerely thank all the artists who shared their artworks, as well as their models, for their collaborative work and dedication in building and developing the festival and the entire tattoo scene in Poland and Europe. Your passions and skills contribute to the growth of this exceptional community. We are grateful for your creativity and contribution to the tattoo community.
Congratulations once again!
#Tattoofest2023 #TattooAwards #DevelopmentOfTheTattooScene
Results of the competitions on the first day of the 16th edition of TATTOOFEST CONVENTION (SATURDAY)
HEALED NEW SCHOOL
Awarded:
1st place – Wotra, “Aerograffitink”, Sosnowiec
2nd place – Pasha Dubrovski, “Jungle Tattoo”, Warsaw
3rd place – Maciej Troszka, “Spider Tattoo”, Gliwice
Tattoos that made it to the final in the Healed New School category:
Dima Taylor, “Mona Lisa Tattoo”, Białystok/Kraków
Dima Taylor, “Mona Lisa Tattoo”, Białystok/Kraków
Dima Taylor, “Mona Lisa Tattoo”, Białystok/Kraków
Ebi, “Bankai Tattoo Studio”, Gliwice
Rzychu, “Anatema Tattoo”, Poznań
Spirit Voyager, Chromatica Tattoo, Katowice
Tomek Kołucki, “Ink-Ognito Tattoo”, Rybnik
HEALED NEOTRADITIONAL
Awarded:
1st place – Kubec i Konrad, “Wolf Town Tattoo Collective”, Bratislava, Slovakia
2nd place – Kubec, “Wolf Town Tattoo Collective”, Bratislava, Slovakia
3rd place – Evgeny Kd, “Studio Tatuażu Serpens”, Kraków
Tattoos that made it to the final in the Healed Neotraditional category:
Ania Pająk, “Czarne Złoto Tattoo”, Katowice
Ania Pająk, “Czarne Złoto Tattoo”, Katowice
Candy Ink, “Ink.Fluence”, Wrocław
HEALED REALISTIC SHADED/B&G
Awarded:
1st place – Hated i Ziemba, “Studio Tatuażu Orfen”, Kraków
2nd place – Krzysztof Kamyk, “Pajęczyna”, Katowice
3rd place – Yarson, “Yarson Tattoo Studio”, Aberdeen, Scotland
Tattoos that made it to the final in the Healed Realistic Shaded category:
Staruch, “Azazel Warszawa”, Warsaw
Szymon Wrożyna, “Pracownia Głębia”, Katowice
Butenko Serik, Wrocław
Pavel Salva, “Inkfamous Gallery”, Bratislava, Slovakia
Primo Walasek, “Biały Kruk”, Opole
Ewelina, “Space Tattoo”, Warsaw
Pavel Salva, “Inkfamous Gallery”, Bratislava, Slovakia
HEALED ETHNIC
Awarded:
1st place – Kanu, “Too Hard To Find”, Kraków
2nd place – Krzysztof Krajewski, “Nice and Easy Tattoo”, Warsaw
3rd place – Anton Riakhovski, “Mad Krolik”, Warsaw
Honorable mention – Bartek Jaworski, “Ishta Art”, Jelenia Góra
Honorable mention – Bexa, “XY Studio”, Gdańsk
Tattoos that made it to the final in the Healed Ethnic category:
Bartek Jaworski, “Ishta Art”, Jelenia Góra
Anton Riakhovski, “Mad Krolik”, Warsaw
Anton Riakhovski, “Mad Krolik”, Warsaw
Eli, “Tterapia Studio Tatuażu”, Wrocław
Żenia Strigwir, Katowice
Ivan, “OverdoseArt Tattoo & Piercing Studio”, Michałowce, Slovakia
Vitaliy, “Kia Ora Tattoo”, Warsaw
FRESH OLD SCHOOL
Awarded:
1st place – Blady Czort, “Art Force Tattoo”, Warsaw
2nd place – Rest Mirato, “Indianka Tattoo”, Lublin
3rd place – Ruslan, “Boomerang Pracownia”, Gliwice
Tattoos that made it to the final in the Fresh Old School category:
Jarek Bej, “Opium Tattoo”, Toruń
Karina Fostek, “Ręka Noga Tatuaże”, Warsaw
Spirit Voyager, “Chromatica Tattoo Shop”, Katowice
Cruel Monica, “Coven Tattoo & Piercing”, Wrocław
Kamila Barwin, “Czaszka i Sztylet”, Poznań
FRESH COLOR REALISTIC
Awarded:
1st place – Alex Zakharov, “Space Tattoo”, Warsaw
2nd place – Olga Grigorieva, “Nie Mów Mamie”, Gdańsk
Tattoos that made it to the final in the Fresh Color Realistic category:
Nikita Katrakov, “Phoenix Rising Tattoo”, Toruń
Arkan, “Sky Tattoo” Radom
Sergey Mudryi, “Mad Krolik”, Warsaw
Nik, “Mona Lisa Tattoo”, Kraków
Rudy Dziara, “Tterapia Studio Tatuażu”, Wrocław
Emil Emor, “Emor Tattoo”, Katowice
Viktoria, “Space Tattoo”, Warsaw
Fred, “Jungle Tattoo”, Warsaw
Jehor, Jungle Tattoo”, Warsaw
Jana Rozhnova, “Seven Sins Tattoo”, Poznań
Łukasz Bejtu, “Bejt Tattoo”, Przemyśl
FRESH ETHNIC
Awarded:
1st place – Inkstasia, “Uroki Studio Tatuażu”, Warsaw
2nd place – Alex, “Wolf Town Tattoo Collective”, Bratislava, Slovakia
3rd place – Karolina Deres, “Duchy”, Warsaw
Tattoos that made it to the final in the Fresh Ethnic category:
Wojtek Przychodzki, “Absolute Body Art Studio”, Edinburgh, Scotland
Kristina Marian, “Genesis Tattoo”, Budapest, Hungary
Piotr Kufta, “13 Tattoo”, Szczecin
Yura Ocean, “Green Rabbit Tattoo Studio”, Katowice
Max, “XY Studio”, Gdańsk
Adrianna Sopała, “Machinarium Tattoo”, Katowice
Emilia Wi, “Lunatyk Studio”, Warsaw
GRAPHIC FRESH
Awarded:
1st place – Oscuro Ink, “Crew Tattoo Shop”, Prague, Czech Republic
2nd place – Konrad, “Wolf Town Tattoo Collective”, Bratislava, Slovakia
3rd place – Kuba Szewczyk, “Szum Tattoo Studio”, Warsaw
Tattoos that made it to the final in the Graphic Fresh category:
Asia Akvarko, “Machinarium Tattoo”, Katowice
Karolina Kulesza, “Szum Tattoo Studio”, Warsaw
Marta Bobko, “Mona Lisa Tattoo”, Białystok
Anna Rudenko, “Mad Krolik”, Warsaw
Hanna Manna, “Szum Tattoo Studio”, Warsaw
Dominika Gajewska, “Lunatyk Studio”, Warsaw
Peco, “Wolf Town Tattoo Collective”, Bratislava, Slovakia
Results of the competitions on the first day of the 16th edition of TATTOOFEST CONVENTION (SUNDAY)
HEALED GRAPHIC
Awarded:
1st place – Kuba Szewczyk, “Szum Tattoo Studio”, Warsaw
2nd place – Mikołaj Malinowski, “Oni Warsaw”, Warsaw
3rd place – Konrad, “Wolf Town Tattoo Collective”, Bratislava, Slovakia
Honorable mention – Bibiana, “Wolf Town Tattoo Collective”, Bratislava, Slovakia
Tattoos that made it to the final in the Healed Graphic category:
Ola Kozubska, “Ładne Rzeczy Tattoo & Piercing”, Łódź
Balaganov, “Atrament Tattoo Studio”, Łódź
Kamil Szpakowski, “Mona Lisa Tattoo”, Białystok
Michał Józefiak, “Tasty Tattoo”, Poznań
Ola Kozubska, “Ładne Rzeczy Tattoo & Piercing”, Łódź
Adrianna Sopała, “Machinarium Tattoo”, Katowice
Asia Akvarko, “Machinarium Tattoo”, Katowice
FRESH OLD SCHOOL
Awarded:
1st place – Blady Czort, “Art Force Tattoo”, Warsaw
2nd place – Rest Mirato, “Indianka Tattoo”, Lublin
3rd place – KHIMZ, “Kia Ora Tattoo”, Warsaw
Tattoos that made it to the final in the Fresh Old School category:
Blady Czort, “Art Force Tattoo”, Warsaw
Blady Czort, “Art Force Tattoo”, Warsaw
Spirit Voyager, “Chromatica Tattoo Shop”, Katowice
Blady Czort, “Art Force Tattoo”, Warsaw
Spirit Voyager, “Chromatica Tattoo Shop”, Katowice
Ruslan, “Boomerang Pracownia”, Gliwice
Pat Karpeza, “Wilczy Bilet”, Olsztyn
FRESH COLOR REALISTIC
Awarded:
1st place – Sersky, “ANDROMEDA s2022”, Sosnowiec
2nd place – Alex Zakharov, “Space Tattoo”, Warsaw
3rd place – Karol Rybakowski, “Ink-Ognito Tattoo”, Rybnik
Tattoos that made it to the final in the Fresh Color Realistic category:
Butenko Serik, Art Kosewski, Jarek Goraj
Alex Zakharov, “Space Tattoo”, Warsaw
Alex Zakharov, “Space Tattoo”, Warsaw
Sersky, “ANDROMEDA s2022”, Sosnowiec
Ksenia Vaykhel, Brno, Czech Republic
Butenko Serik, Wrocław
Butenko Serik i Misslava, Wrocław
Butenko Serik, Wrocław
FRESH NEW SCHOOL
Awarded:
1st place – Imran, “Mona Lisa Tattoo”, Kraków
2nd place – Złe Decyzje, “Art Force”, Warsaw
3rd place – Maciej Troszka, Spider Tattoo, Gliwice
Tattoos that made it to the final in the Fresh New School category:
Kris Osiński, “Bankai Tattoo Studio”, Gliwice
Ebi, “Bankai Tattoo Studio”, Gliwice
Barbara Kiczek, “Mojry Tattoo Studio”, Katowice
FRESH NEOTRADITIONAL
Awarded:
1st place – Michalina Bolach, “Szum Tattoo Studio”, Warsaw
2nd place – Lovely Love, “Contrast Ink”, Kraków
3rd place – Martyna Kowalewska, “Scared Corium Tattoo”, Leicester, England
Tattoos that made it to the final in the Fresh Neotraditional category:
Malwina Mosiejczuk, “Kobra Tattoo”, Poznań
Malwina Mosiejczuk, “Kobra Tattoo”, Poznań
Rebeka Bubi Kichler, “Widowmaker Tattoo Parlour”, Budapest, Hungary
TWO-DAY TATTOOS
Awarded:
1st place – Oxi, “Nie Mów Mamie”, Gdańsk
2nd place – Wotra, “Aerograffitink”, Sosnowiec
3rd place – Ola Kozubska, “Ładne Rzeczy Tattoo & Piercing”, Łódź
Tattoos that made it to the final in the Two-Day Tattoo category:
Bibiana, “Wolf Town Tattoo Collective”, Bratislava, Slovakia
Sara Derbis, “Krakowska Pracownia Tatuażu”, Kraków
COOPERATIONS
Awarded:
1st place – Butenko Serik, Art Kosewski, Jarek Goraj, Kares
2nd place – Sebastian, Magda, Andrzej, Dominik, “ANDROMEDA s2022”, Sosnowiec
3rd place – Kseniia i Matwey, “Herki Tattoo”, Stargard
Tattoos that made it to the final in the Cooperations category:
Anna Karpova i Pasha Dubrovski, “Dead Body Tattoo Łódź”/”Jungle Tattoo”, Łódź/Warsaw
Jana Rozhovna i Alexandr Rozhnov, “Seven Sins Tattoo”, Poznań
FRESH REALISTIC SHADED/B&G
Awarded:
1st place – Wiola, “Jungle Tattoo”, Warsaw
2nd place – Boltan, “Studio Tatuażu Orfen”, Kraków
3rd place – Marek Ciernava, “Xander Tattoo”, Czadca, Slovakia
Feel free to visit our partner, TATTOOARTIST.PL, to see the awarded artworks and read the summary.
Congratulations to all the winners and their models!
THE JURY
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EXPERTS IN EACH CATEGORY:
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Old school/Traditional
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Neotraditional | Newschool |
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Ethnic tattoo
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Realistic tattoo colour
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Graphic tattoo
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Tattoo contests schedule:
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SUNDAY
11:30 Graphic tattooing (engravings, fineline, trashpolk, watercolour)/ healed 12:00 Old school/Traditional/ healed 13:30-15:00 Tattoo competition – Realistic colourful/healed tattoo 17:00 Contest – Newschool/ freshly made 17:30 Competition – Neotraditional/ freshly made 18:00 Realistic b&g tattoo / freshly made 19:00 Tattoo competitions: Two-day tattoo Cooperation 20:00 Announcement of results and prize giving 20:30 Closing of the second day of the festival |
SPECIAL GUEST – LARS KRUTAK
I would like to recommend and invite you to a meeting with Lars Krutak, an esteemed expert in the field of tattoo anthropology and cultural tattooing. Lars Krutak is a renowned author, researcher, and television personality, widely recognized for his groundbreaking work in documenting and exploring indigenous tattoo traditions from around the world.
Lars Krutak has dedicated his career to studying and preserving the cultural significance of tattoos. Through extensive fieldwork and collaborations with indigenous communities, he has gained invaluable insights into their rituals, symbolism, and techniques. His passion for cultural preservation has led him to travel to remote regions, engage with tribal tattoo practitioners, and document their traditions through writing, photography, and film.
With his expertise and knowledge, Lars Krutak has authored several books, including “Tattoo Traditions of Native North America: Ancient and Contemporary Expressions of Identity” and “Kalinga Tattoo: Ancient and Modern Expressions of the Tribal.” He has also hosted the popular television series “Tattoo Hunter,” where he explores diverse tattoo cultures worldwide. Lars Krutak’s achievements and contributions to the field of tattoo anthropology have earned him international recognition and respect. His dedication to understanding and appreciating the cultural significance of tattoos makes him a truly remarkable figure in the tattoo community.
We cordially invite you to join us for this unique opportunity to meet Lars Krutak and delve into the fascinating world of cultural tattooing. It will be an enlightening and inspiring experience for all enthusiasts of tattoo art and cultural heritage. The event will take place on Sunday in our Dialogue Zone at 3:00 PM. After the interview, there will be time for a brief chat or book signings. We highly recommend and encourage you to come and meet our special guest.
ZONE 90 – WE’LL BE HEARD AGAIN
American tattoo artist Dan Higgs once said that traditional tattooing doesn’t mean dwelling in the past, but rather nurturing something that existed long before and will endure in the future. It refers to a permanent state of being in the midst, not at the end. With that in mind, we consider this time to be the most appropriate to tell the young generation and tattoo enthusiasts about the beginnings of the scene in Poland, to share experiences and showcase achievements that many contemporary tattoo artists could only dream of. The primary goal of this undertaking is to pass on the passion to those who are capable of continuing what the veterans of the scene started and still hold dear to their hearts.
The zone will be divided into three parts: exhibition, workshops, and tattooing.
Our special guests of the zone:
Tomasz Skoczypiec, Visages of the Panther, Gdynia
Leszek Jasina, Studio Tattoo Gonzo, Szczecin
Tomasz Molka, Demolka Tat2, Bydgoszcz
Sławek Czerwonka, Bydgoszcz
Dagmara Nawikas – Misiuk, Tat Studio, Gdańsk
Jarosław Misiuk, Tat Studio, Gdańsk
Arek Małecki, Tattoo Jokers, Ostrów Wlkp.
Bartosz „Zielak” Zieliński, Tattoo Jokers, Ostrów Wlkp.
Karol Krawczyk, Black Star, Warszawa
Sebastian Junior, Juniorink, Warszawa
Grzegorz Małek, Guru Tattoo, Wrocław
Wiesław Wiktor Cisowski, Rajski Ptak Studio Tatuażu, Rzeszów
Waldi, Shockin’ City Tattoo Studio, Wiedeń
Osa, Waldi, Shockin’ City Tattoo Studio, Wiedeń
Anna Wronecka, Studio Tatuażu Tattooino, Inowrocław
Tomasz Wronecki, Studio Tatuażu Tattooino, Inowrocław
and coordinator and co-organiser of the zone Sławomir Frączek, Tattoo.pl, Poznań
OLD PORT
Old Port is a new concept at the Krakow Tattoo Festival. It was initiated by Ania Szymoniak from the Kia Ora Tattoo studio in Warsaw, who has been emotionally and mentally connected to the traditional tattoo scene for many years. The main goals of creating this special zone dedicated to this phenomenon are its promotion, community integration, and showcasing the unique atmosphere that accompanies this style. Approximately 30 artists from Poland and 20 from abroad have been invited to the zone. The full lineup will be available soon in the ARTISTS section. In the meantime, we invite you to visit the separate Instagram account: OLD PORT, especially for those interested in old-school style tattoos. One thing we know for sure is that you won’t be indifferent to this zone because extraordinary things will be happening at Old Port!
PPPiercing zone
Although piercing is often and wrongly perceived as an addition to the tattoo studio, this industry has been experiencing its huge boom for several years, and decorating the body in this way is becoming more and more popular. That’s why at this year’s Tattoofest you will find a special zone devoted exclusively to piercing, and the Professional Piercers Poland association will provide you with a specific dose of piercing sensations on its fifth anniversary!
In the PPPiercing zone, they will have the opportunity to pierce with as many as 8 piercers (Gosia and Agata z Kultu, Doktor i Corolik, Paulina and Julia, Agat, Patrycja).
There will also be no shortage of exhibitors with high-quality jewelry and care products. It will also be an opportunity to explore the training offer and have a chat about piercing courses. The association will also take care of the educational aspect, and its members Katarzyna Kwiecień and Aleksander Styś will give a lecture titled “The Professional Piercer – Who is That?” which we warmly invite all piercing enthusiasts to attend. Additionally, in the special PPP booth, those who would like to deepen their knowledge about safe piercing can have a conversation with association members who will be happy to answer all your burning questions. The icing on the cake will be the association’s birthday lottery.
The sponsor of the PPPiercing zone is Trust brand.
Patrycja – https://www.instagram.com/i_pierce_you/
Tattoo Championship Poland (TCpl) Finale 1st Edition
This year, we’re hosting the Tattoo Championship Poland (TCpl) Finale 1st Edition at Tattoofest. In a specially designated area, you’ll meet the thirty-three finalists who made it through the regional eliminations. According to the TCpl organizers, these contestants represent the cream of the crop of the new generation of tattoo artists and they’re about to engage in a competition like no other in the industry! Expect a diverse range of styles and top-notch techniques. Who will come out on top? Join us at the Finale 1st Edition of the Tattoo Championship in Bratislava Hall. TCpl is a fantastic opportunity not only to witness the art of tattooing live but also to meet the masterminds behind Tattoo Championship – Szymon Szumala, Tomasz “Toffi” Torfiński, and Max Pniewski. You’ll learn about the inception of the project, the insights gained from the 1st Edition, and the organizers’ plans for the upcoming season. During the finale, you’ll also have the chance to view an exhibition of artwork created during the 9th edition of Tofi Tattoo Experiment, held under the theme “Escaping Soul” during the Mazovian eliminations of TCpl. For all visitors, there will be a video coverage documenting the course of all this season’s events, as well as materials summarizing the participants’ work and contributions to the project.
LALAESIE
Ala is a self-taught dollmaker, she likes to let each new doll teach her something new. I find inspiration everywhere – in nature, art, and music, but most often in folk tales and bestiaries.
WORKSHOPS:
Comics Museum
This year, in the WORKSHOP zone, you will find the stand of the Museum of Comics foundation, where you will be able to see the latest publications on the history of comics in Poland, as well as selected comic albums by Krakow artists associated with the Krakow Comics Association.
Twice a day (at 12:00 and 16:00) we invite you to comic workshops, during which professional comic book artists will show you how to create comic characters, how to compose frames and entire comic boards, and how to narrate in this medium.
Graffiti Jam
As every year, we’ve planned a few dozen square meters for a graffiti jam. You will be able to see in action few writers invited by us, for whom we have dedicated the main wall. And this year this privilege went to the great trio:
In addition, traditionally, a few smaller walls will be created, where everyone will be able to leave a mark. All those willing to join the painting are invited to the outdoor area!
Gaming Zone
For computer game fans, we have a real treat: a journey to the past. Make sure to visit our gaming zone featuring games from the 70s, 80s, 90s, and the early 2000s. You’ll find over 20 stations with old-school equipment, including Commodore 64, Amiga 500, NES, SNES, Nintendo 64, Pegasus, Vectrex, Atari 2600, PONG, and many, many more. You’ll have the opportunity to play the best games from the late 20th century.
Go gamers!
Kids Zone
We want Tattoofest to become a family festival and we never forget about the youngest. With them in mind, we always carefully prepare a large Kids Zone, where parents will be able to leave their children under the professional care of animators. This year, the Zone, like the entire festival, will be even bigger! The program of the zone includes face painting, artificial tattoos, colorful braids, twisting balloons, creating colorful jewelry, embroidering mascots, making postcards, coloring spatial buildings, games, and other attractions. In addition, as every broadcast, there is an inflatable castle with a slide. Plus soap banks, the Klanza scarf and many more.
Banana INK
What human skin and banana have in common? Thanks to BANANA-INK you can find out that the answer is: a lot! In a specially prepared booth for our guests, they will be able to test themselves in the role of tattoo artist and make any design using a professional tattoo machine on a banana peel (age is no important!). Its surface is very similar to human skin, so you can successfully experiment with contour, shadows and filling. Under the watchful eye of Sasky you will learn how to use tattoo machine and the basic rules of hygiene. We invite you to Banana-Ink profile on Facebook – you can find there an extensive gallery of banana tattoos.
WWF
WWF is an international foundation that has been operating in Poland for 20 years. Their mission is to build a future in which humanity lives in harmony with nature. What does the WWF Foundation do? For 20 years, it has been saving the most valuable natural sites in over 100 countries on 6 continents.
They are guided by the assumption that if you think globally, you should act locally. Therefore, they strongly focus on the national natural wealth. The Polish natural environment is one of the most unique in Europe. Protecting the wonderful relic Carpathian Forest, rebuilding the population of the lowland lynx in Masuria, preventing pollution of the Baltic Sea, proposing a wise and friendly law in the field of forest management and logging, or preventing the degradation of the most beautiful Polish rivers are great challenges that they would not be able to cope alone. Therefore, during the festival, the foundation’s volunteers will carry out a special educational and fundraising campaign. You will recognize them with their panda T-shirts.
DKMS
Can a person with a tattoo become a bone marrow donor? Yes, of course! A tattoo is a work of art that expresses your personality, it is the story of your life. Each of them has a past, often hidden and individual. But the most important thing is that it does not interfere with saving the life of a person suffering from blood cancer. Did you know that every 27 seconds in the world, and every 40 minutes in Poland someone hears a diagnosis – blood cancer? Everyone gets sick … regardless of age, country, religion, passion for tattooing, or reluctance to do it. Women, men, and children are sick. Would you like to write another story that will stay with you forever? All you have to do is spend 10 minutes, register as a potential donor in the DKMS Foundation database, and give someone a chance for a new life!
We invite you to visit the DKMS Foundation point during the 16th TATTOOFEST Convention in Krakow.
OUR HOSTS
We are proud and happy to introduce our irreplaceable hosts:
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Karolina, a native of Krakow, has been associated with the pop-punk band CF98 for over 12 years. Her musical career took her to the finals of the 4th edition of the X Factor. She is a fan of whiskey and silly jokes, colorful tattoos, and cats that she is allergic to.
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Maciek is also a Krakus by birth, and manager of Studio Kult Tattoo Fest Jubilat on a daily basis. You can find his texts and interviews, e.g. in Tattoofest magazine or Barrier Skateboard magazine. Maciek has over a hundred events in his event portfolio, e.g. Etnies European Open, stops at the Polish Skateboard Championships, and Jibb Jams.
LISTEN UP — Dialogue Zone is a project that was created in 2022. You had the opportunity to witness its first edition during the 15th edition of Tattoofest. We’re on the lookout for valuable content and interesting individuals who will help us grow and explore new territories. Just as it goes in the Dialogue Zone — we’ll have conversations. This time, we’ll be discussing the traditions of tattooing and its presence in art, culture, and the showbiz industry.
The first guest of the Dialogue Zone – LISTEN UP, at the 16th edition of Tattoofest, was Aleksandra Gałka-Reczko – a journalist and reporter whose articles can be found in magazines like TVN24 Magazine, Duży Format, Onet, Aleteia Polska, and “Non/fiction – a sporadic reporter’s journal.” She is the winner of the 4th edition of the Reportage Contest by Wydawnictwo Poznańskie. She is a lover of New Zealand and Māori culture. During her stay in New Zealand, she had a meeting with Pouroto Ngaropo – the chief of the Māori tribe Ngāti Awa, recognized as the reviver of the “moko mātaora” culture – the traditional facial tattooing of the Māori people. She discussed the true significance of moko for the authentic Māori and the “Māori Tattoofest” with Piotr Miecznikowski.
Please check the conversation recording along with the transcription and stay tuned for upcoming videos that will soon be available on our channel.
First episode on YouTube
First episode on Spotify
During the first day of the festival, we hosted Andrzej Dragan, a professor of theoretical physics and a laureate of numerous awards for his scientific, photographic, film, and music achievements. Currently, Dragan is a professor at the Faculty of Physics, University of Warsaw, and a visiting professor at the National University of Singapore. He has been involved in photography since 2003 and developed his own digital photo editing method known as the “Dragan Effect,” focusing on light retouching. He has captured photographic sessions of many well-known personalities, including David Lynch, Mads Mikkelsen, Andrzej Mleczko, and Kuba Wojewódzki. Recognized as the “Photographer of the Year” by the British magazine “Digital Camera,” he was nominated for the Golden Lion at the Cannes advertising festival for campaigns with Converse and Energizer brands. His works have been exhibited in Milan, London, Paris, Amsterdam, New York, and displayed on the façade of the Palace of Culture in Warsaw. Dragan is a recipient of the “Best in Show” award from the British magazine “Creative Review” and the “Golden Sword KTR” for his debut film “Time Lapse.” He has also created short films for HBO, Netflix, and music videos for Behemoth and Quebonafide. In 2019, his book “Quantechism, or the Human Cage” was published, popularizing physics and related topics, and in 2022, an expanded version titled “Quantechism 2.0, or the Human Cage” was released. The conversation was conducted by Piotr Miecznikowski.
Please check the conversation recording along with the English transcription and stay tuned for upcoming videos that will soon be available on our channel.
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Łukasz Orbitowski was born in 1977 in Krakow. He also completed his studies at the Faculty of Philosophy at the Jagiellonian University. He published his reviews and columns in publications such as “Nowa Fantastyka,” “Przekrój,” “Lampa,” and “Gazeta Wyborcza.” He also hosted the program “Dezerterzy” on TVP Kultura. The writer’s first collection of short stories, “Złe wybrzeża,” appeared in 1999. Among his most significant works are the novels “Tracę ciepło” from 2007, an extraordinary combination of horror and literary fiction titled “Święty Wrocław” from 2009, as well as “Szczęśliwa ziemia” and “Inna dusza.” In 2007, Orbitowski’s novel “Tracę ciepło” received the title of Krakow Book of the Month. In 2013, Łukasz Orbitowski was nominated for the Paszport Polityki in the literature category and received a nomination for the J. Zajdel Award for the novel “Szczęśliwa ziemia.” In 2016, he was awarded the Paszport Polityki for the novel “Inna dusza,” which also received nominations for the Nike Literary Award and the Gdynia Literary Award. Subsequently, “Exodus” was created in 2017, followed by “Kult” in 2019. Recently, Łukasz Orbitowski delved into the history of a mysterious flying object that crashed into the Gdynia port basin in the late 1950s in the book “Chodź ze mną” (Come with Me).
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We began the Sunday meetings at the Dialogue Zone – POSŁUCHAJŻE with a conversation with well-known figures in the piercing industry. Anna Małachowska and Beata Kwaśniewska shared insights about the feminine side of piercing.
Anna Małachowska – the founder and owner of the largest piercing studio in Poland, a piercer with years of experience. Her aim is to promote the highest standards in piercing, focusing on quality work, a unique perspective on this art, and the safety of her clients. A few years ago, she started her own training sessions, contributing to the development of the beautiful art of body adornment in our country and beyond its borders. Her students work in top studios across Europe and even establish their own practices. Teaching became her passion, leading to the creation of #Familiangie, a community of her students forming a unique support and knowledge-sharing group. Angie also collaborates with the best artists from various continents, continuously gaining knowledge and substantive support from them.
Beata Kwaśniewska, also known as PierceBeti, is an experienced piercer. She began her career in Toruń, later working in Bydgoszcz and Brodnica. Currently, she’s a member of the Stormy Family in Gdańsk. She has been professionally piercing since 2011 and has participated in the largest European conference for piercers – BMXnet Conference – every year since 2016. Beata is the president of the Professional Piercers Poland association and the vice president of the InkedEarth association. Her experience as a piercer, previous collaborations with non-governmental organizations, and frequent attendance at industry events allowed her to organize the first conference for professional piercers in Poland in 2021. Beti has established collaborations with the American APP association, BMXnet organizers, and numerous leading companies in the piercing industry. Her drive for continuous development extends not only to herself but also to the entire Polish piercing scene.
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This time, we’ll be discussing the traditions of tattooing and its presence in art, culture, and the showbiz industry. Our Special Guest in the Dialogue Zone – LISTEN UP was Lars Krutak, a tattoo anthropologist who has been traveling the world for over 20 years to get to know indigenous tribes and delve into their tattoo practices and related traditions. Krutak has authored more than 90 articles for scholarly journals and popular magazines, and his books encompass the history of tattooing in Native North America, northern Philippines, the archaeological history of tattooing, and the spiritual aspects of tattooing and scarification, including ancient tattooed mummies. To date, Dr. Krutak has conducted research on tattoos with over 50 indigenous communities in more than 30 countries. In addition to his publications, Krutak produced and hosted a 10-part documentary series “Tattoo Hunter” on Discovery Channel. Lars Krutak also has an Instagram TV documentary titled “Patterns of Life: Tattoos of the Naga,” and two books to his name, including “Tattoo Traditions of Asia” (the first book on this topic) published by the University of Hawai’i Press. He has Slovak roots and resides with his family in Washington.
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This year, our Dialogue Zone was concluded by a conversation about covering unwanted tattoos.
Konrad Horodecki, known as Rudy Dziara, has been involved in tattooing for nearly 20 years, although he claims that he has learned the most in the last 10 years by putting everything on the line and immersing himself in the flow and the world of tattooing. Over the course of these two decades, he has experimented with various styles, struggling to find his place. Finally, one day, he developed and refined his own style, combining rather niche tattoo techniques: Blackout and White on Black, in various forms as a new field of cover-ups.
Piotr Hryniów graduated from the Faculty of International Relations, specializing in International Tourism, although he has never worked in the tourism industry. After years of working in action sports and event organization, he entered the tattoo industry in 2017. Two years later, he started the “Laser Wars” project. Since then, he has gained experience by removing hundreds of tattoos using laser technology. As he says, laser tattoo removal is a serious procedure, and he approaches each client very individually.
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PATRONAGE
