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Mario Desa
Interview by Nick Colella
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I met Mario Desa in 1999 at a small tattoo convention just outside of Chicago, Ill. We exchanged a couple paintings and tattoos over the next few years. I liked his style and his approach to tattooing, and after knowing him for eight years and working with him for almost three, I still do. He introduced me to new painting techniques, and I introduced him to Nike. We have been working together ever since.
Colella: When you were a kid, what'd you want to do when you grew up?
Desa: I wanted to be a Latin King. [laughs]
Is that a Milwaukee King, or just a regular, full-on Chicago Latin King?
The set by my house was the Kagel Kings, they were around Kagel elementary school. They were Latin Kings, but yeah, they were in Milwaukee. I just honestly hadn’t thought beyond junior high as far as being anything in life...besides a gang banger.
So that's where you're from — Milwaukee, Wis.?
Yeah.
What were you into as a kid?
Riding my bike, break dancing, hanging out in the neighborhood, staying out late, watching TV, drawing, and then I got into skate boarding.
And that was your teenage years?
Junior high and into high school, skate boarding, punk rock, going to shows, graffiti.
Do you find any of those influences in your tattoos today?
I guess skateboard graphics. I always looked at them and the punk rock graphics. A lot of skaters and people in bands always had tattoos, and so I always wanted tattoos right off the bat (when I was like thirteen). And my grandpa had tattoos.
From?
From Amund Dietzel, so I thought that was awesome.
Who or what do you look to for inspiration?
I'd say from the beginning it was Dan Higgs, Seth Ciferri, Scott Sylvia, Jef Whitehead. The people around me like Dan Trocchio (who helped me and was my guiding light in the craft), John Reiter, and Julio Avila. I guess at first a lot of graffiti. Now, more so, I look outside of tattooing, like Henry Darger, Fred Stonehouse, Mexican art. It doesn't really show up in the tattoos, but there’s a hint. Mentally, I am thinking about some of their stuff, and trying to bring back some of my graffiti influence; as far as color combinations and blends, but not necessarily graffiti. I don’t really like doing graffiti tattoos.
Are you in a place now, at The Chicago Tattooing Co. Inc., which you can help and get help from other tattooers?
I think we all do a pretty good job of busting each other's balls and critiquing each other. We did that at Deluxe Tattoo a lot too, which helped, and we try to hang out to draw or paint. Everyone at the shop is very down to earth and pretty honest with each other. I think we all like each other enough and get along well enough that we can give tips and advice.
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