Award-Winning Tattoos from Gdańsk Tattoo Konwent 2023 [GALLERY]
Traditionally, the Tattoo Konwent (29-30 July 2023) has once again attracted numerous talented tattoo artists from various corners of Poland and beyond its borders. This year, the convention saw the participation of 300 tattooists. Each of them had the opportunity to showcase their skills on the festival stage and take part in competitions for the best works.
Over the course of both days of the event, a total of 10 competitions were held, with a staggering 524 entries. Craft awards crafted by a tattoo artist from Malin Tattoos studio were granted to 30 tattoo artist.
Jurors Mortitia Capriciosa, Paweł Bilewski, Michael Murolo, Andy Bonzai, and Marcin Pawlus recognized the authors of the most intriguing yet technically refined tattoos with awards.
- For me, it was my first visit to Poland, and the impressions from the stay were incredibly positive. I'm enchanted by the beauty and rich history of your country. I had heard about the charms of the city of Gdańsk before, seen numerous photos on the Google platform, and talked to many people who only had positive opinions about this place. Regarding my participation in the jury during the Gdańsk Tattoo Convention 2023, I would like to share that I was incredibly happy and proud of the opportunity to take part in this prestigious event. I'm impressed by the level of artistry presented by the participants. I don't hide the fact that I expected certain difficulties in the evaluation process given the number of works, but this task turned out to be more satisfying than I thought - said Michael Murolo, responsible for artist selection at Caserta Tattoo Convention Italy and International Metz Tattoo Expo in France.
- I've already participated in Polish conventions for over twenty years, sat on the jury several times, and also hosted dozens of conventions. I always take immense joy in participating in conventions in Gdańsk. It was here that the Tattoo Convention began, and the atmosphere of this tattoo celebration infects artists as well, evident in their excellent works. The high level of presented works surprised our entire jury. The result of our deliberations wasn't unanimous, as each juror has their favorite tattooing styles. Hence, each of us tried to convince the other jury members of the superiority of our choices. We deliberated the longest on choosing the best works in the Realistic Tattoo category – the discussions lasted almost 40 minutes... but we succeeded! - said Paweł Bilewski from Sky Tattoo Radom, a conference host who has organized numerous conventions in the country since 2008, when he organized Tattoo Jam Radom.
- The role of the jury is to carefully analyze each work, identify any imperfections, and highlight only the top three works in each category. All the works presented in the individual categories were incredibly beautiful, but the evaluation process required a deeper immersion into each of them and an analysis based on evaluation criteria. These criteria included the tattoo style in the context of the given category, the placement and symmetry of the motif on the body, the originality of the design, line quality, color saturation, grayscale tones and colors, harmony of the motif on the body, and the technique of rendering shadows and lights, particularly important for works with a realistic character. It's also worth noting that realism and surrealism are two distinct styles that need to be properly recognized and assessed - added Michael Murolo.
- It would certainly be a good idea for the next edition to introduce categories like Surrealistic Tattoo and Black and Grey Tattoo. The works of Kasia Dumka in cooperation with Oxi and Michał Wurszt stood out the most in memory, but my unquestionable favorite work was the joint piece by Ksenia and Mat from Herki Tattoo. Keep an eye on this pair of artists because they will win at many more conventions! See you at Tattoo Convention Katowice on September 2-3! - said Paweł Bilewski.
- In conclusion, I would like to express my gratitude and heartfelt thanks to the event organizer, Marcin Pacześny, and Kamila Burzymowska, for the opportunity and trust they bestowed upon me, allowing me to participate in the jury of this beautiful event – the Gdańsk Tattoo Convention 2023. I'm delighted that I had the chance to be a part of this exceptional event, experiencing a magical and friendly atmosphere that accompanied us throughout the entire event. The feeling of being surrounded by such a family aura made me feel at home – something of great importance to me. This event and all of Poland will forever remain in my heart - summarized Murolo.