We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Flarik Akhmetov. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Flarik below.
Flarik, thank you so much for taking the time to share your lessons learned with us and we’re sure your wisdom will help many. So, one question that comes up often and that we’re hoping you can shed some light on is keeping creativity alive over long stretches – how do you keep your creativity alive?
For me, my art is not just a hobby or a way to earn money—it is a way of life and a means of expressing my own worldview. Since I specialize in tribal tattoos, it is important for me to study the history and traditions of the tattooing process in order to preserve this knowledge for future generations. This very goal sustains my creativity and inspires me.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
My name is Flarik. I have been tattooing for over 12 years. For the past seven years, I have been exclusively focused on tribal tattoos, with a particular emphasis on the tattoos of the Polynesian islands.
I see myself not just as a tattoo artist focused solely on the visual aspect but also as a researcher who values the history, traditions, and cultural nuances of the peoples whose tattooing practices I recreate. Unfortunately, very little reliable information about traditional tribal tattoos has survived to this day, and finding it is a truly complex and meticulous task. However, this challenge makes my work even more fascinating and fulfilling.
For example, in the Marquesas Islands of Polynesia, the tattooing culture was suspended for 100 years due to the arrival of missionaries in the 18th century. Knowledge of traditional tattooing was preserved only thanks to a few scholars of that time, who managed to document these traditions in their research.
That’s why I consider my work to be quite important—I want the history of tattoo culture to be popularized and preserved for future generations. After all, tattooing is not just a beautiful design on the body; it is an entire layer of human history that has accompanied us for thousands of years.
For example, Ötzi the Iceman is the oldest known human mummy with tattoos ever found in Europe. Ötzi is a naturally mummified man from the Copper Age, discovered in 1991 in the Ötztal Alps in Tyrol, near Mount Similaun. Radiocarbon dating has determined that the mummy is approximately 5,300 years old.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Looking back and considering my experience, I can say that the most important skill needed to achieve high results in any field is analysis. It is analysis that helps you understand the fundamentals and nuances of your craft.
Personally, analysis has helped me grasp the intricacies of composition, the structure of various ornaments, the search for my own style, and much more.
I also want to emphasize that whatever you choose to pursue, it is crucial to study its fundamentals and history. A strong foundation is essential—without it, you won’t be able to grow and progress.
Who is your ideal client or what sort of characteristics would make someone an ideal client for you?
My ideal client is someone who comes to me consciously—someone who has thought about their decision for a long time rather than making it impulsively.
My ideal client fully trusts me but is also engaged in the process, understanding how serious and responsible this work is. They are committed to completing the tattoo, even if it is a large and time-consuming piece.He should respect my time and listen to my advice and suggestions.
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Image Credits
Flarik Akhmetov
The process of applying a traditional Borneo tattoo. I’m in the role of an assistant. The rest are photos of my work.
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