EntreSesiones #4 · Kike Navarrete, tattoo artist

What this video is about

In this episode of EntreSesiones, Alberto Moreno talks with Kike Navarrete, a tattoo artist from Málaga, about his career and the meaning of tattoos. Kike explains that he started tattooing at around 30, encouraged by friends and with the help of a leading tattoo artist in Málaga, practising first on friends and with small designs, and that after the pandemic he left his job in a clothes shop to devote himself fully to tattooing. They talk about health regulation of the sector in Andalusia, unqualified practice, the investment needed to get started and the importance of a good atmosphere in the studio.

Much of the conversation focuses on the psychological dimension of tattoos. Kike explains that many people get tattooed at difficult times, such as losses or bereavements, and that first tattoos tend to carry a strong symbolic charge. They discuss their role as a marker of identity and belonging, the shift from their old association with crime to their recognition as art, and the prejudices that still persist. He insists on advising clients, especially younger ones, to think carefully about decisions that are hard to reverse, and explains that laser removal is a slow and painful process.

Finally, they talk about trends, his admiration for Michelangelo, the role of artificial intelligence in design and the personal treatment of each client.

Topics: tattoos, identity, symbolism, grief, prejudice