We were lucky to catch up with Uno Kim recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Uno, thanks for sharing your insights with our community today. Part of your success, no doubt, is due to your work ethic and so we’d love if you could open up about where you got your work ethic from?
Before starting, there is a motivational mantra that can perfectly describe where my work ethic comes from, which is “Effort never betrays you.”
When I first started working in New York City as a Tattoo Artist, I remember that in order to build myself up and create a good reputation, I needed to put in a lot of effort into everything. From giving myself tight deadlines, waking up early to be the first one to get walk-in appointments and being the last one to leave and interacting a lot with clients and building a good and lasting relationship with them. Essentially, I tried my best to always be productive (even if at times it was a bit stressful) and push myself to find the perfect work rhythm.
I guess, my work ethic comes from my own self and through years of experience and discipline!
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
My name is Uno Kim and I am Tattoo Artist in New York City. I currently own a tattoo studio Maison Mono, and a café, MSMN Café, with my partner, Mona, on the border Greenpoint and Williamsburg in Brooklyn.
My tattoo style is very delicate and dainty, as I use continuous and fine single line work to tell my lovely client’ stories! What I love from tattooing is the ability to translate each client’s memories, thoughts and stories through permanent pieces of art on their skin.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
When I started tattooing in 2015, I didn’t have many followers on social media (specifically Instagram). The path to reach my current audience was definitely not linear, and, at times, very exhausting. However, the entire journey has been (and still is) incredibly rewarding. From the very beginning, resiliency and consistency have been the key qualities: every single day, I have been posting my ideas, my general life and my tattoos in order to reach and interact with my audience.
I think an advice that I would like to give is that when posting something (and this can be applied to any type of post!), tagging and adding a general location is very important. That way, it can reach a lot more people that are interested in what you do and create. Another thing that I learned, is that sometimes only posting about tattoos can disinterest and, perhaps, bore your followers. In fact, I notice that when I post about my daily life and routines ( few examples: drinking coffee, my beloved dog Uni, or an afternoon wandering in a museum), traveling and other things, I get to engage with my audience more. And I think it is because they get to know who you really are outside your career, and, also relate to your daily life.
How can folks who want to work with you connect?
Since I work in the Tattoo World and co-own a Tattoo Studio, Maison Mono, we are always looking for amazing and talented people to guest and collaborate. And this doesn’t pertain only to Tattoo Artist, but all Artists, with different backgrounds and stories, and using different medias to express their artistry.
Maison Mono is the ideal place to connect with fellow artists and share ideas, while enjoying the surrounding space.
If you would like to connect with us, please send an email to the following email address [email protected] and/or [email protected] !
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.maisonmono.art/uno
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uno.maisonmono/
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
