{"id":252337,"date":"2022-02-07T19:23:27","date_gmt":"2022-02-07T18:23:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/highxtar.com\/?p=252337"},"modified":"2022-02-07T19:25:26","modified_gmt":"2022-02-07T18:25:26","slug":"we-talk-w-javier-rodriguez-of-always-grateful-tattoo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/highxtar.com\/en\/we-talk-w-javier-rodriguez-of-always-grateful-tattoo\/","title":{"rendered":"We talk w\/ Javier Rodriguez of Always Grateful Tattoo"},"content":{"rendered":"

Javier Rodriguez of Always Grateful Tattoo, one of the most established tattoo artists on the international scene, tells us first-hand about his concept of this artistic discipline as well as his plans for the future and his recent arrival in the capital.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

HIGHXTAR (H)<\/strong><\/span> – Seventeen years in Barcelona, in one of the best known studios in the world? Why did you create Always Grateful here in Madrid?\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Javier Rodr\u00edguez (JR) –\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/span>Well, starting from the fact that Madrid<\/strong> is my city, I always wanted to return, and thanks to the determination and help of a friend of mine, I saw the opportunity to form something new. I think Madrid is a good location. It seems to me to be a very powerful city artistically and in constant trend.<\/p>\n

(H) –\u00a0How is it being received in the city?<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

(JR) –<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0It’s been good, considering that all start-ups are hard and the current moment doesn’t help. But thanks to the support and encouragement of my colleagues and friends from other sectors, everything is going better than expected.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

(H) <\/span>– You have become one of the most important tattoo artists in the world… How did you get here? How do you gain respect in the world of ink?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

(JR) –<\/span><\/strong>The tattoo world has evolved a lot. It used to be very different in terms of tattoo culture. It wasn’t as accessible as it is today, there wasn’t as much consumption and there weren’t as many references as there are today. You tried to find your own way, yourself, your identity, your style or however you want to define it.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

I would highlight that one of the reasons that has made me grow in my career or trajectory is travelling and being able to meet and, at the same time, work in different places with different people of all styles. Examples include Sang Bleu<\/strong> London<\/strong>, Smith Street Tattoo<\/strong> in Brooklyn, Temple Tattoo<\/strong> in Oakland, Three Tides Tattoo<\/strong> in Osaka, Japan… among others. Working with people like Bert Krak<\/strong>, Maxime Buchi, Freddy Corbin<\/strong>… for me it’s a source of inspiration.<\/p>\n

(H) <\/span>– <\/span><\/strong>What do you like most about your job, and do you still have dreams to fulfil in this profession?<\/strong><\/p>\n

(JR) –<\/span><\/strong> I like everything about my job: dealing with clients, working on the designs, the visits…. I like everything related to tattooing. I feel very grateful. Every day I tattoo is a dream.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

(H) <\/span>– You’ve tapped some very well known people. From Action Bronson to Messi… Any anecdote that we can know? What has been your biggest goal as a tattoo artist?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

(JR) –\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/span>I’ve been very lucky when it comes to tattooing people who come from different backgrounds, but in the end I’m grateful that they choose you as their tattoo artist.<\/p>\n

I was tattooing Dani Alves<\/strong>‘ hands when he told me that Messi<\/strong> wanted to get a tattoo. Even though he’s a Madrid man, it’s an honour to tattoo one of the most famous legs in the world.<\/p>\n

Tattooing Action Bronson<\/strong> was a blast. He’s a very easy person to connect with and he’s always joking around, which makes your work more enjoyable and fun.<\/p>\n

My ultimate goal is to be able to continue to do so for many years to come.<\/p>\n

(H) <\/span>–\u00a0<\/span><\/strong>Always Grateful is your creative project… Where does the barrier break between a tattoo studio and a creative brand like for example Sang Bleu and now yours? Plans for clothing, watches, etc. in the future?<\/strong><\/p>\n

(JR) –\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/span>I think that nowadays for me there is no barrier as such, between tattooing and music, art or fashion, as the tattoo world has grown and evolved a lot and it is easy to find tattoo stuff on clothes for example and vice versa.<\/p>\n

When Sang Bleu<\/strong> <\/em>was born it was something that was unheard of in the tattoo world because of the mix he did, he fused music, fashion and tattooing. He put it all in the same context.<\/p>\n

I think that tattooing is such a global artistic act nowadays that anything can be a tattoo, and tattooing can become anything.<\/p>\n

We are currently working on different designs with Always Grateful<\/a><\/strong> and have a few collaborations in the works. Watches? I would love to work with Swatch<\/a><\/em>. The first watch I had as a child and I think any kind of design looks great on it.<\/p>\n

Lately I’ve been working on larger paintings, I’d like to go deeper into that underworld.<\/p>\n

(H) <\/span>– <\/span><\/strong>If you had to describe Always Grateful, how would you do it?<\/strong><\/p>\n

(JR) –<\/span><\/strong>When I opened the studio I wanted to take into account everything I have learned over the years tattooing and travelling. I wanted it to be a studio that breathed tattooing above all else. I was always attracted to the idea of old flash studios, with so many designs that leave you no room for imagination.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

With the appearance and meaning of Always Grateful<\/strong> I would like to refer to those old studios full of tattoo designs, but with a fresher and more colourful touch. An open space where you feel comfortable to come and get tattooed, see the designs or come and talk to us about any of your ideas.<\/p>\n