Meet Seolhee, the tattoo artist mixing history and Korean fantasy

Tattoo artist Seolhee’s world is a kaleidoscopic playground. Nine-tailed foxes and cartoon characters dart in and out of petals framed with norigae, traditional Korean charms with symbolic knots. Plum blossoms painted in an age-old style blend their brushstrokes with otherworldly colors of vivid blue and purple. In each of his viral Instagram creations, Korean history meets an element of fantasy.

“I wanted to make Korean culture and traditions more accessible and familiar,” says Seolhee. Forbes. “I believe it is essential to always dream and have hope in life. I wanted my works to evoke the same joy and big dreams that we experienced as children watching Disney and Studio Ghibli films.

Scrolling through her feed, it’s impossible to miss that element of childhood joy, which has captivated her followers around the world. Although she’s currently part of Hongdam Studio’s roster of talented tattoo artists, you’re just as likely to encounter her at the Seoul studio as you are at one of the many international pop-ups. (Her manager confirmed that 90 percent of Seolhee’s booking requests currently come from overseas clients, “especially from the United States over the past three years.”) To meet the growing demand for her work, she rarely stays long at the same location.

“I love talking to my clients because I tattoo people from all over the world and every interaction provides a unique experience,” says Seolhee. Much of her inspiration comes from a mixture of historical sources and her own imagination, but she also draws new ideas from each session. “Each client has their own reasons for getting a tattoo, and hearing their stories helps me understand their perspectives and incorporate their ideas into my designs,” she says.

Before she started tattooing, Seolhee dreamed of becoming a hanbok designer and putting her own spin on traditional clothing. “I always loved hanbok and historical paintings, which led me to specialize in Korean painting,” she says. “It allowed me to explore traditional Korean culture in depth.” During his creative journey, a twist happened when a certain set of tattoos caught his attention on social media. “His work looked like art,” she said. “I thought that expressing my ideas on a person’s ‘walking gallery’ would be more accessible than a traditional gallery, and I decided that I needed to learn this art form. This was the start of my journey.

The work in question was done by Hongdam, one of Korea’s most in-demand tattoo artists who counts Han So Hee and Chloë Grace Moretz among his celebrity clients. But back then, it was his striking designs that left an impression on Seolhee. “I saw an article about an exhibition in a cafe across the street from his studio and went to meet him,” she says of her “current mentor.”

It will be a while before Seolhee officially joins Hongdam Studio, but that day was the start of her career. At the time, Hongdam said, he had no plans to hire students. Instead, he gave her some advice and introduced her to other studios where she could hone her craft. Months later, he saw his tattoos on Instagram. “I felt compelled to offer advice,” he says. “We got back in touch and she started formal training at my studio. I regretted not teaching him from the beginning.

Seolhee rebuilt her basic techniques “step by step” with Hongdam, covering everything from art theory to tattoo techniques. As they worked together, her own style began to emerge, manifesting itself in the themes she is known for today. From the start, Hongdam says, she seemed destined for success. “She excelled at in-depth conversations with customers, building lasting relationships unlike the usual brief interactions,” he says. “Everyone loves his positive energy and the quality of his work. »

This year, Seolhee traveled all over the world to meet her clients and was selected as a judge for the upcoming Mummy International Tattoo Expo, Constanta International Tattoo Convention and Metz Tattoo Expo. She will also appear regularly at Hongdam’s new tattoo studio in Los Angeles when it opens this fall, says her mentor.

“Many customers, especially Americans, travel long distances to get a tattoo,” he says. “I can’t wait to see what Seolhee will achieve there.”

For now, she continues to do what she loves all over the world. “Expressing a fantasy world through the Korean traditions that I love is something I do to inspire others,” she says. “Through my tattoos, I hope to encourage people to dream and find hope, if only for a moment. »

Sarah Y. Wu is a senior contributor to Forbes. See his work on sarahywu.com and follow her on Instagram @say.wu.

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