Excerpts from INK magazine – interview with Gu SaoriKyle “Reaver” Goodman caught up with Ms. Gu at the Tattoo/Woodblock Print Conference & Exhibit 2015 at the Hui Noeau Visual Arts Center in July. This is Ms. Gu’s first interview with the public.
For those readers who are unfamiliar with Ms. Gu’s work (and if you are unfamiliar, you need to leave your cave more often), Ms. Gu is the rarest of all birds: a female irezumi artist. The fact that Ms. Gu is charming, beautiful and a delight to talk to as well is just icing on the cake.KRG: Ms. Gu-
GS: Saori, please.
KRG: Saori, then. Saori, as I understand it, women are almost never trained as irezumi students. How did you learn this traditional craft?
GS: My grandfather is a Chinese tattoo artist and he taught me his trade. So I learned the modern method, using a tattoo gun. When I erupted in 2012, my art expanded with my new awareness. I became better than my grandfather overnight. I displayed my art at the 2012 Tattoo/Woodblock Print Conference where my irezumi teacher approached me. At his request, I went to study with him in his home in Japan. Normally, this process takes many, many years, but I was able to learn it to my master’s satisfaction in two years. This, of course, is thanks to my enhanced abilities.
KRG: I can believe it! I’ve seen what you can do. I understand that part of what makes you so good is that you carefully customize each piece to your client.
GS: I have an advantage. I can project an image of the
horimono as I see it on my customer. They can make small changes to it before I start work, and we can be sure that it will look good where it is laid on the body. We can see how small movements in the muscle will change the appearance of the
horimono.
KRG: If I may say, that is not the only advantage you have.
GS: (blushes, laughes) Thank you.
KRG: Our readers have been familiar with your work for years, but we don’t know much about you personally. What is Saori like?
GS: I am very boring. I study tattoos and work on my skill most of the time. Now that my irezumi master has released me, I will try to be more interesting.
(laughes)KRG: So how do you plan to become more interesting?
GS: I will travel the west coast of America, visiting various tattoo artists in an attempt to learn more styles and techniques.
KRG: Why the West Coast?
GS: My grandfather is on the West Coast. For now, I will stay near him.
KRG: So you’re dedicated to your family?
GS: My grandfather is the only family I have left. I will care for him in his waning years as a dutiful granddaughter should.
KRG: OK. I hope that my granddaughter is like you. Moving on for a moment – do you have any big projects coming up? Any big pieces that we might see here next year?
GS: Nothing that I can commit to having here next year.
KRG: That’s too bad. Well, we look forward to whatever you do bring back. Thank you so much for your time; it was a real pleasure.
GS: As it was for me. Thank you.
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