Hernán yepes Medellín - Colombia @hernanyepes_art

Based in Medellín, Colombia, **Hernán Yepes** has built a strong path within contemporary tattooing, defined by a deep, technical, and conceptual approach. In this interview, he shares how narrative surrealism, black and grey work, and the conscious use of contrast became the foundation of his visual language—one designed to connect with the body while telling real, meaningful stories.

Throughout the conversation, Hernán also reflects on his role as an educator, his experience teaching courses, and his belief in knowledge-sharing as a key element in the evolution of tattooing. He further explores TattooVision, the innovative optical system he developed to enhance visibility, precision, and overall tattoo quality, explaining its origin, development, and impact on professional practice.

This interview offers an in-depth look at his artistic journey, his educational commitment, and his drive for innovation, providing a clear perspective on his present work and future direction within the global tattoo scene.

1. As an artist, how would you describe your aesthetic pursuit, and which elements do you consider essential to build a piece with its own identity?

My aesthetic pursuit is centered on narrative surrealism. I use social, psychological, and personal symbols to transform my clients’ life stories into images that go beyond the literal. I work in black and grey with very strong contrasts because they allow me to convey strength, drama, and visual clarity. For me, a piece with its own identity is born from three elements: a personal story, a composition that harmonizes with the body, and flawless technical execution.

2. In your career, there was a key moment when tattooing stopped being an exploration and became your main language. What happened at that stage, and how did it shape your current perspective?

That moment came when I realized that tattooing was not just a skill, but a medium for transforming human experiences into art. I began listening more deeply to my clients’ stories and understood that I could help them reframe difficult, traumatic, or meaningful moments through images loaded with symbolism. That realization guided my style toward a more introspective, technical, and emotional approach.

3. You are the creator of an optical project that has drawn a lot of attention in the community called TattooVision. For those who don’t know it yet, how would you describe it in your own words, and what specific need does it address?

TattooVision is a polarized vision system designed exclusively for tattoo artists. It combines two polarized filters—one in the glasses and one in the LED light—to eliminate glare and reflections on the skin. This allows you to see the second layer, where the pigment is actually deposited. It solves a common problem: tattoo artists cannot clearly see whether an area is properly saturated until the tattoo has healed. TattooVision provides that information in real time, preventing mistakes, overworking the skin, and helping to improve healing.

4. What situation, problem, or personal experience first led you to think about developing a visual tool specifically for tattoo artists? What was the initial spark behind the project?

This idea was born after an accident that burned my cornea. For two days I was completely blind, and my recovery involved using polarized lenses to reduce my eyes’ sensitivity to light. When I returned to tattooing, I thought, “What if I used this same concept in my work? Maybe it could help me see better.” I realized I could adapt this technology to solve the issues of glare, technical saturation, and eye fatigue that all tattoo artists face. That’s how the most revolutionary idea of my life was born—one that helped me improve my work in an incredible way.

5. The design evolved significantly. What was the process of research, testing, and adjustments like until you reached the final prototype? Which technical aspects were the most difficult to perfect?

It was a process of trial, error, and constant observation. The first prototypes were uncomfortable, heavy, or generated too much heat. I tested different materials, light intensities, filters with varying densities, and articulation systems until I achieved a stable, lightweight, and functional version. The most difficult part was understanding the behavior and functionality of the different polarized lenses in order to produce the perfect lens for tattooing and finding a way to maintain the exact angle between the light and the lenses.

6. Artists who use it mention improvements in contrast, sharpness, and depth perception. What technical decisions did you make to achieve that optical performance?

The main decision that allowed TattooVision to be used by tattoo artists with different working styles was the combination of the lenses in the glasses and the lens in the LED light. These two elements must be complementary and, above all, perfectly aligned from the manufacturing stage so that each user can achieve maximum visual performance.

7.Beyond the technical aspect, what emotional or professional impact do you aim to generate in tattoo artists who incorporate it into their daily work?

I want tattoo artists to gain confidence, precision, and peace of mind. TattooVision reduces the margin of error, improves posture, decreases eye fatigue, and accelerates the learning curve. I want artists to feel empowered, to enjoy their process more, and to reach a level of quality that previously took them years to achieve.

8.In addition to this project, you play a strong role in the education of new artists. What motivated you to start teaching courses and supporting learning processes?

Sharing knowledge is a form of evolution. Many artists asked me how I achieved certain results, and I realized I could turn my experience into a clearer path for those who are just starting out. Teaching forces me to keep researching, refining my technique, and maintaining a constantly evolving vision. I also enjoy seeing how other tattoo artists find their own style using the tools I share.

9.In your courses, how do you integrate observation, visual precision, and ergonomics as part of the tattoo artist’s overall development?

I integrate these three pillars as follows: observation is the foundation of good composition—it is trained by studying the body and understanding how anatomy flows to create designs with identity and coherence. Technique is strengthened by developing visual precision to control contrast, saturation, and transitions. Tools like TattooVision enhance the entire process by clearly showing real saturation, reducing eye fatigue, and enabling more precise technical decisions in real time. As for ergonomics and body posture, they are no longer an issue for me thanks to the constant use of TattooVision, since it eliminates skin glare and allows me to see the tattoo more clearly without adopting uncomfortable positions.

10.Looking ahead, what new stages do you envision for this project, your educational work, and your artistic growth?

For TattooVision, a second generation of glasses is coming, along with more powerful LED lights with internal batteries, high-end optical materials, and a more advanced rotation system.

On an educational level, I am developing a deeper learning program focused on surrealism, advanced techniques, and AI-assisted composition. As an artist, I aim to take my projects to a more conceptual level, where each piece becomes a more complex emotional exploration and a more cinematic work.

11.To close, we’d like to give you an open space: is there anything you’d like to add, a message for the community, or an aspect of your work you consider important to share? And finally, how can people contact you to access your projects, training, or acquire your developments?

I would like to invite tattoo artists to become visionaries—artists who believe in innovation, who question what is established, and who strive to elevate the technical and creative quality of their work. I strongly believe that vision—both aesthetic and conceptual—is the most valuable resource a tattoo artist can have.

Those interested in learning about my courses, acquiring TattooVision, or discussing projects can contact me through:

@hernanyepes_art

@tattoovision_on

[www.tattoovision.com](http://www.tattoovision.com)