Artist in view: Torsten Malm
How did you get involved with tattooing and how did you find your personal style of tattooing?
It was quite suddenly actually, as my wife Kätlin Malm decided to take a few drawing courses due to her upcoming special effects make up school. She then somehow lured me into practicing drawing and it sparked something within me that then quite naturally developed into the situation I find myself in today.
I think I would not change anything, the path growing into a tattoo artist was quite smooth and natural. It required a lot of effort, practice and determination, although it really didn’t feel like it as it was and still is something I enjoy so much.
What is the thing you enjoy most in the tattoo industry?
I would have to say it is the freedom it gives me. The constant possibility to improve, the immediate gratitude of seeing something created after a workday, the possibility to try new things, to constantly develop and do what I like most.
I am also very thankful for being able to share every day with the person I love the most and to work side by side with her, to explore new opportunities, to push each other and just to experience the joy together that our profession gives us.
Do you have a ritual or specific thing you do every time before you start tattooing?
Not really, every day is different, some days are more hectic and some are starting more slowly, I never know what the day is going to bring, and I am happy to keep it that way. If there would be one specific thing, then maybe it would be to try and relax completely before starting the actual tattooing process. Sometimes a busy morning can create for a slightly stressfull feeling, and it is best to not ride that feeling when starting to tattoo.
What’s missing in the tattoo industry? What would you like to see change?
Less ego, more love!
There is already a lot of love and respect within our community, but I think we could work on bringing that up and letting go of the egos a bit more.
Who are your biggest inspirations, or artists you admire and why?
My biggest inspirations are the ones who are constantly striving to improve and do it joyfully and honestly. Those are most often also the technically and artistically most talented individuals. There are so many artists I admire greatly, too many to name them all, but to drop a few names I would have to say Sandra Daushkta, Thomas Carli Jarlier, Dennis Sivak, Dimitriy Samohin, Eddie Rise, Alex Sorsa, Mashkow, Sam Taylor, Timur Lysenko, Igor Mitrenga, Kätlin Malm, and the list could go on forever…
What’s the funniest tattoo related experience you have witnessed or heard of?
A guy in Finland ( let’s call him Tim) had booked a session with a guest artist and he came to the appointment a little bit earlier to check the design. So the artist took a break and came to the reception to show Tim the design.
Tim wanted a portrait of his pet hamster that had just passed away, but the artist showed him a design of a silverback gorilla. With great confusion Tim told the artist that he wasn’t here for the gorilla, but for the memorial tattoo of his hamster. The artist blushed and asked Tim to come with him to the back, they went to the tattooing area, where a client was waiting, and when the artist told Tim to look at the tattoo he was working on. Tim took a closer look and to his surprise he saw the client having an almost finished tattoo of his pet hamster.
Of course overwhelmed with confusion, Tim asked what the f**k is going on? The artist told him that he got the two clients mixed up. The client also tried to explain, that he had booked an appointment to get a silverback gorilla, but when the artist showed him the hamster design he thought it was pretty cool and went with that.
Tim went: “Jeesus, the tattoo even says in loving memory… including the date of birth and death, how could you not see this was a specific memorial tattoo?”
The client just said, yeah I guess I didn’t think it through…
So confused and angry Tim went outside to have a smoke, and after he gathered himself he went back in and decided to get the gorilla tattoo for himself. After all he had waited a few months to get a tattoo from this specific artist.
And this is no joke, this is an actual real story!
I don’t know exactly what happened to the guy who got the memorial tattoo or if he still has that tattoo on his body, I guess he still carries it with pride, unless it is covered up by now 😊.
What is most important for avoiding bad tattoo healing?
Proper hygiene, proper tattoo technique and proper aftercare. They all go hand in hand. And of course Tattoo Armour Pads really help to secure optimal aftercare.
What’s your favourite tattoo convention(s) and why?
I would have to say so far probably Milano and Venice, I love Italy and these conventions carry some of the best tattoo artists in the world.
What’s the one topic or theme of tattoo you get asked the most?
I think there is no specific tattoo theme or tattoo idea coming up much more than another. I think most of my clientele are pretty open minded and have some vague ideas, which in turn allows me to work more on the actual artistic part of tattooing.
Is there a specific body part you enjoy tattooing and one you really don’t enjoy tattooing, and why?
Everywhere with tight skin is pretty nice to tattoo, such as legs, head, forearms. The parts I enjoy tattooing the least have to be upper inner arms and ribs.