Sou, Lust For Life , Fortitude Valley
Always try your hardest and keep a positive mind ...
A place for a coffee and a bagel, a spot of art gazing or inking some bare skin, Lust For Life serves many a purpose. Slotted into the Chinatown end of Wickham Terrace, this combo space specialises in custom tattoos, the artists drawing tattoos from scratch, designing the colour, layout and placement like an architect would a permanent structure. Like many who venture down the tattoo path, Lust For Life resident tattoo artist Sou was hooked after getting his first tattoo in an underground parlour in Korea. With tattooing illegal in Sou’s home country, breaking into the field was a challenge. But Sou took his childhood love of drawing and the excitement at seeing art etched into skin for the first time, and begun to study on his own before training under renowned tattoo artist Khan. With a particular fondness for Japanese-style tattoos with traditional storylines and outstanding compositions, Sou has carved a reputation for his artistic vision, eye for layout and placement, as well as his steady head.
How do you like to start your weekend?
I actually work every Saturday so I guess I like to start my weekend with a vitamin water!
What’s your favourite thing to do on a Saturday morning?
Working!
How do you like to unwind?
I love listening to music while I’m drawing. Otherwise watching movies or Korean TV shows.
What are your essentials for a well-spent weekend?
Having absolutely nothing to do!
What’s something you’ve been meaning to do on the weekend but haven’t got around to yet?
I’d like to go somewhere alone, maybe the beach to just relax and think about nothing.
What’s your favourite thing to do on a Sunday evening?
Drawing or watching movies.
What are you looking forward to next weekend?
Starting a new piece with my client.
What are you reading at the moment?
Tattoo magazines and design books. My favourites are Tattoo Artist Magazine and Tattoo Tribal.
Who inspires you?
There’s so many people but to name a few from the tattoo world. Horiyoshi, Shige and Yushi.
What inspires you?
Art!
What was your childhood dream?
It was a common dream. To enjoy life and always play!
What has been your greatest achievement?
Successfully graduating from high school.
What is success to you?
To be happy, healthy and have enough money to live.
What are your words of wisdom?
Always try your hardest and keep a positive mind.
Only a local would know that… the perfect seat to view the scenery from at Kangaroo Point.
FAVOURITE WEEKEND SPOT TO:
Perk up … Coffee at Starbucks.
Relax … Browsing through bookstores.
Dine … Obaltan in the city. So delicious!
Indulge … At home with wine.
Shop … Culture Kings, Brisbane City.
Catch-up … Playing billiards in the city.
Be inspired … Tattoo shops.