MEMORIES TURNED INTO STYLISH ART THROUGH VERTICAL WINDOW TATTOO

Even though a tattoo is small, it can still have a lot of colours and details. This is demonstrated by the work of Dami Nam, also known as Daldam, an artist from Korea. Her special challenge is to create a condensed yet fashionable visual narrative by working within vertical, narrow frames.

Although Nam's vertical tattoos seem like a very straightforward idea, only a talented artist could produce the kind of effects that the tattoo artist's portfolio displays. Except for a character or an architectural element that appears to be protruding, a rectangular frame perfectly captures a layered scene or landscape. With her small canvas, she can pique the imagination of the viewer, giving the impression that each vertical tattoo is a doorway to a surreal realm where one could easily enter.

Although Nam has only been in the body art business for seven years, the complexity of her pieces suggests decades of practice. Her passion for art dates back to her early years, and she yearned for a career in the arts. She eventually got to draw for a living after a friend noticed her talent and introduced her to the tattoo industry.

Nam frequently receives commissions to use her tiny ink rectangles to document her clients' travels and memories. Although her meticulous work and in-depth understanding of local architecture frequently allow her to portray travels throughout Asia, she has recently been documenting a different type of milestone: weddings and couples, which are still entwined with the local imagery that has come to represent her work.

In keeping with Asian culture, Nam's clientele has also requested that the artist create fashionable tattoos inspired by their favourite films. As demonstrated by her tattoos of Studio Ghibli and The Handmaiden, Nam can depict an entire universe rather than just one character by emphasizing the main characters and using the remainder of the composition as a window into their fantastical worlds. Whatever works best for each design, her elaborate tattoos can feature anything from a bright and colourful scene to a dark yet detailed nighttime scene.