Beautiful Mortal: Interview with Christianna

Delicate traces of ropes on the skin, thin threads of fishnet stockings... Kristianna, aka Krylev, is known for her attention to detail and textured techniques. It's not just the soft, smoky aesthetic that makes these pieces visually appealing; much of the iconography is deeply rooted in underground culture and exhibits that special, unique quality that the tattoo community was once known for. Sexuality, violence, and even existential icons like Tarkovsky's epic film Stalker convey an authentic subversive mood that resonates with those looking for a deeper side of the mainstream.

Having moved from the Philippines at the age of 12, Christianna has been tattooing for just over two years, but a creative outlet was exactly what he was looking for. “I was always looking for a remedy that could affect someone's emotions, you know, someone's life. And I thought a tattoo was the perfect vehicle for that. For me, paintings, sculptures, illustrations, they just sit on the sidelines, you know, beautiful immortal. But he's just collecting dust. When it comes to tattoos, they live with the person. It develops together with the person, it experiences life together with the person.

Looking at Kristianna's portfolio, one can see an incredibly diverse array of influences. Visual arts, anime, dance, cinema… but he also mentions a particular weakness in Japanese creativity. “Initially, I was very attracted to this Japanese style called Ero Guro, erotic blood. Like Junji Ito and those guys, there's something special about their work. I have also always studied Rembrandt, as his shading is what influenced my work."

Among the pantheon of avant-garde works commissioned by Kristianna's clients is Araki, a renowned Japanese photographer known for his shibari work. They make powerful figures. Christianna explains: “There is something about the rope itself. It's not a question... it's not just something sexy to me. I look at the essence of the rope on whoever it is. To me, the basic idea is that you can limit someone's body, but you cannot limit their mind and soul. No matter how connected you are, inside you are always free.”

Although Christianna was full of natural talent, her path to getting a tattoo was not as easy as it might seem. “I would say that I definitely taught myself, first of all, you know, out of curiosity, for example, even before I thought I really wanted to be a tattoo artist, I got an Amazon kit and practiced on artificial skin. And then, coming out of that, graduating from university and returning from France, I went to this studio, which I really liked ...

They only taught me about two months and then they pushed me out of that apprenticeship and made me tattoo people, which I think was very wrong. I feel like they just pushed me to become a tattoo artist for them so they could make money." Nevertheless, with hard work and dedication, Christianna continues his constant development, becoming the best artist he can be in the new Soft Flex studio. “We are like a vacuum of life and love. I couldn't be happier."

This motivation to be a great artist is also linked to Christianna's admiration for Japanese art. While acknowledging that part of his interest in Japan may be due to the history of the Japanese colonization of the Philippines, Christianna also postulates that it may be due to a particular artistic and craft commitment to Japanese culture.

“It's not just because, you know, I'm stuck with it or I've been surrounded by it. But even in this case, everything Japanese is just great. They have such a mindset: just hone your skills until you become a master. There is a master for making scissors, and there is a master for sharpening them, you understand? And that's what I want to be. I prefer to be a master at one thing, because to be a master of all trades means not to be a master of anything. Do you know? I want to be the best person I can be. I want to be the best artist I can be."

For his clients, Christianne's dedication and commitment to the craft, as well as his overall aesthetic, is stunning. But he also has a warm, friendly personality that puts people at ease during the tattooing process. "I like to communicate with people. I love it when they share their stories with me and vice versa. I don't know, it looks like the earth or the universe has been around for billions of years. And the fact that at this moment you are spending this moment with someone and sharing. It's so strange, unique. It's so incredible."

“I strive for people to come and feel comfortable as soon as they enter. This is a perfect example: I had a client and her boyfriend came. While I was tattooing his girlfriend, he said, "I feel so good now." Your mood is so good. The studio is so cute. I don't even know your style. I haven't seen your work, but I want a tattoo from you." And I'm like hell yes! It just made me so happy, you know? Comfort for everyone, you know? It makes me happy."

As for a guide for young artists trying to break into the tattoo industry, Kristianna advises focusing on the technical aspects of tattooing before venturing into creativity. He explains that buying a cheap Amazon kit is also perfectly normal: "You know, it's just a way to find out what your role is and whether it will be just a fun activity or your craft."

“But I definitely strongly recommend paying more attention to precautions. Understand how to use the machine, how much a needle or cartridge can absorb, and how long it can last without being submerged. You know, it's just a return to observation. Watch what your machine is doing, what the needles are doing to the skin, and then realize that when you tattoo fake leather, you just have to feel the machine, because fake leather and real leather are so far apart.”

Are you hoping to become Christianna's apprentice? It might be an option… but he says it won't be someone random: “For now, it will be my brother. As for me, when I was growing up, I always looked at my brother as the way he painted, the way he illustrated. It was beyond my understanding. Basically, I want to teach him how to tattoo, to share something that I hold dear with someone I care about, you know? And I also feel like he's going to be a really great tattoo artist."

For Christianna, the future is a positive place, but he also enjoys the present; connecting with others and admiring the beauty of the endless cosmos. “I just went to Joshua Tree. Everyone has always admired it and it's such a beautiful place. Definitely out of town. But I just looked at night and saw the Milky Way. I saw stars after stars after stars. And I was just like... we're so tiny, you know, like we don't have any influence on the universe. We are just a stone ball floating around the sun. And you can just, you know, get through your day. What is the purpose? Maybe there is no purpose. But I'm just lucky because now I'm living my dream."