In the vast artistic landscape of tattooing, some artists transcend geographical and cultural boundaries to carry their passion to every corner of the globe. One of them is Diamante Murru, a talented artist born and raised on the captivating island of Sardinia, Italy. From an early age, Diamante was drawn to the art of tattooing, though her journey in this artistic path was far from a perfect line.
Through an intense search for her artistic identity, Diamante shares with us how her vegan and eco-conscious lifestyle influences her work and how her travels through different cultures have shaped her vision of body art. You will discover how her path to mastery in the ornamental/black style with touches of tribal and Japanese elements was a journey filled with challenges and self-taught learning.
In this fascinating odyssey, we will learn how Diamante defied stereotypes in the tattooing industry, finding her place in a world that once seemed unfriendly to female artists. Additionally, we will explore the changes and technological advancements that have revolutionized the tattooing industry in the past decade, granting artists like Diamante the ability to create solid black ink and clean lines with astonishing precision.
Join us on this journey through the world of tattooing, where ink merges with a passion for travel, a quest for technical perfection, and inspiration from diverse cultures. Welcome to an article that will delve into the art of solid black ink in a transforming world.
"My name is Diamante Murru, I’m an Artist born and raised in Sardinia, Italy, until the age of 20 when I left the island to travel the world."
WHAT LIFESTYLE DO YOU LEAD?
Since a long time I’m vegan and eco conscious, this is my lifestyle. I’m a traveler, I love to discover different cultures and places.
WHEN DID THE TATTOO ENTER IN YOUR LIFE?
I got my first tattoo when I was 19, even though I started to get in touch with the tattoo industry a little while before. I was working already in the body art scene as performer and body painter, and I started to feel attracted by the tattoo art at a very young age. I started tattooing then at the age of 23.
WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THIS STYLE OF TATTOOS?
The choice was very natural. In the beginning I was tattooing every style because I wanted to learn the techniques in order to don’t have any limits in the moment in which I wanted to experiment and mix different styles, and also because coming from a classic art education I thought it would make me a more solid artist being able to dive into the different styles but choose what I wanted to master.
I found out while the process that what I do right now, ornamental/black work with some hint of tribal and Japanese it’s what I have more fun doing.
IT IS DIFFICULT TO ACHIEVE FULL BLACKS, LIKE THE COMPOSITIONS, ACHIEVE THE BALANCE SO AS NOT TO HURT, FIND THE RELEVANT MATERIALS ETC ETC.. HOW WAS THIS PROCESS LIKE?, DID SOMEONE ACCOMPANY DURING THE LEARNING?, WERE THERE INFLUENCES?... .
Doing a solid black, same as doing perfect and clean lines, requires dedication and practice. It’s easy when you master the technique and it’s not easy until you reach that point.
In the past 10 years the tattoo equipment, as inks, needles, machines, developed incredibly. Nowadays is. What creates a solid background in terms of books, travels, had always been there and it’s very different to Google search and Pinterest.
As I started over 11 years ago, the tattoo industry wasn’t very woman friendly, and the island where I was living in wouldn’t offer a variety of artists willing to share their knowledge. I started by myself and I didn’t have a proper apprenticeship, so I was getting tattooed in order to learn, and I started working in a few tattoo shops in which I was after a few years lucky enough to get some tips from some experienced colleagues.
I’ve learned a lot and made mostly of my experience while traveling and getting in touch with a lot of amazing artists where I was lucky enough to watch while working and sharing meaningful conversations. Not only about techniques but about the craft and life experiences.
WHEN A PERSON ARRIVES AND TELLS YOU THAT THEY WANT TO GET A TATTOO WITH YOU, BUT THEY DO NOT HAVE A CLEAR DESIGN, HOW DO YOU WORK ON IT?
IS THERE A CONNECTION OR HAS IT HAPPENED TO YOU THAT DID NOT HAPPEN AND SAY WELL MAYBE I AM NOT THE ONE WHO SHOULD DO IT AND GIVE UP??
My clients never comes with a design. I create the design for them every time. Through a talk with them understanding more of their life and personality I get the idea of what to do, and I create in the moment while I'm free handing with the markers on their body. We bond a connection through the process, which leads us to work together on the creation of their piece.
The only time in which I’d said I’m not the right person for a specific project would be if they’d come with a design and only wants me to execute it.
WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAPPEN WITH YOU AND THE FUTURE OF THE TATTOO? DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT OR JUST LET LIFE FLOW AND WHATEVER HAS TO HAPPEN?
I’m not such a planner so i always let life to do its job and I’m excited to see what’s happen and where the universe brings me. I know for sure that I will keep tattooing and traveling and keep create beautiful connections, that ever details in between I don’t want to control them..!
ARE YOU GIVING SEMINARS, PARTICIPATING IN CONVENTIONS, ETC OR FOR THE MOMENT NOT?
Yes I do. I only participate to a few specific events a year, mostly big conventions or gatherings, and I’m planning some workshops.
TALK TO ME ABOUT THE CIRCUS, HOW DID THE LOVE FOR THE CIRCUS BORN?
HOW FELLS SHARE THE SAME PASSION FOR ACROBATICS WITH YOUR SISTER?
There’s also a fun fact: My twin sister Diletta is a professional circus artist which does tattoos for fun (on friends only) and I’m a tattoo Artist which practice acrobatics for fun.
We were always interested to these kind of disciplines since we were very young but never really practiced them. She got then into pole, aerial and acrobatics mostly when I got into tattooing, and the connection and sharing our passions teaching to each other then came organically. We always have so much fun playing together
MANAGING TIME AND TRAVEL SHOULD NOT BE EASY AT THE BEGINNING, HOW DO YOU MANAGE BOTH PROFESSIONS?
It’s just about choosing what to prioritize. I’m a zero to hundred kind of person, I manage my life between traveling, tattooing, movement, and private life switching the priorities time to time, dedicating more energy to one or the other one thing.
DO YOU CONNECT TRAVEL WITH YOUR PROFESSION? BRINGING IDEAS TO THE TATTOOING, IN YOUR DESIGNS ETC?
Of course I do. Mostly of my trips are work related, I have such a strong connection with my profession that it doesn’t really divide from my personal life. I travel collecting inspiration and bringing my work in different countries.
IF YOU HAVE TO TELL ME THE MOST HIGHLIGHTS THAT THE TATTOO HAS GIVEN YOU... WHAT WOULD IT BE?
Well, it’s been over 11 years already so the highlights had been a lot. I think the most important moments for me were traveling in my favorite countries doing what I love, meeting artists I admire, and connecting with other amazing people.
DO YOU CARRY OUT OTHER ACTIVITIES? OTHER PROJECTS ON THE WAY?
Yes I do. I founded two companies in the past year, both of them under the name Minimal.Ethic, one is a sustainable fashion brand and the other one is a plastic free tattoo supply.
Other than that my passion is movement so I like to practice activities like acrobatics.
TELL US WHAT MINIMAL ETHIC IS... .
Minimal.Ethic are my 2 companies. I funded them in 2020 with the common mission of bringing more sustainability in this world through 2 big industries: tattooing and fashion.
One company is a sustainable clothing line: I design the clothings and we only use sustainable fabrics and plastic free labels and shipping materials, we are vegan PETA certified as the brand doesn’t use any animal product.
The second company is Minimal.Ethic Tattoo Supply; for this brand I crated a line of disposable biodegradable tattoo supplies to substitute the plastic materials we use for our tattoo station, minimizing the plastic waste.
HOW DOES YOUR YEAR CONTINUE?
I’m currently traveling, spending a few months in Bali working on my companies and planning further conventions. I will spend the rest of the year between USA, Europe and Asia, tattooing, designing, and working on my brands.
IF THE AUDIENCE WANTS TO COMMUNICATE WITH YOU, HOW CAN THEY DO IT?
I only use my emails as communication channel and the official form for the tattoo bookings, all the links are in my instagram bio. .
ANYTHING YOU WANT TO SAY...
Thank you for having me and for the interest in my sustainable mission!
THANK YOU FOR BEING PART OF DGN TATTOO MAGAZINE AND ALLOWING TO SHOW YOUR ART...
