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Thomaz Cauchi, is a black and grey tattoo artist working out of his private studio in Qormi.
How did you get started?
I started doing pencil illustrations before actually moving to the tattoo industry. Just before hitting my 30s I realised that it was time for me to try to do something that can outlive me, so I grabbed my old pencils and started re-learning everything.
What genre do you consider your work to be?
My style is realism and I’m focused mainly on religious and renaissance pieces. I do enjoy tattooing wildlife as well.
Describe your work in less than 10 words.
My mission is to try to create or re-create beauty
Where was your first exhibition held?
Sadly I’ve never exhibited any of my works, however next year I’m planning to hold a duo exhibition with new, non-tattoo related works that I’m working on.
How long have you been practising your art?
I started taking art seriously five years ago and a little over two years ago, I did my very first tattoo on real, sacred skin however I’ve been drawing since I was young.
Which is your favourite from among your own artworks?
It has to be a full back piece of the first martyrdom of Saint Sebastian, by François-Guillaume Ménageot. Apart from the scale of the project, Saint Sebastian happened to be the patron saint of my home town so this project was even more special for me.
Whose artist’s work are you most inspired by?
I follow a lot of modern artists and I use them as a benchmark in whatever I do. My main inspirations are however the old masters. Seeing what they achieved with so little resources makes me want to work harder. In tattooing I’m fascinated by the works of Jose Lopez, Jun Cha and Noah Minuskin, all of whom are working on what is called fine line tattooing. Although, again, I follow a lot of other amazing tattoo artists.
If you weren’t an artist, what would you be?
I’ve worked pretty much my whole life in the gaming industry, and I loved it. To be a full time artist is life’s gift but if this never happened I’d still be working happily in gaming. Although I think I would have loved to be a Kung Fu Panda instead…
What is the epitome of happiness for you?
Happiness is when family and friends are around a table full of good food. On days like that I can’t really ask for more.
What are you working on at the moment?
Well, 2017 should be a pretty exciting year. I have a lot of interesting tattoo projects coming up. During the last two years I’ve been working on a new project which is completely different to my other previous works and is not tattoo related. It’s more on the contemporary side and it includes a lot of different media and finishes. Some pieces are more on the sculpture side but every piece is designed to stand out in a home and make you slow down in front of it. Hopefully I will launch and exhibit these pieces later on this year.
Are you a morning person or do you come alive at night?
Definitely NOT a morning person although I do try to steer my working hours towards the side of normal, but in all fairness I focus more when the world is asleep.
How many coffees a day? Don’t embellish.
Let’s say it depends on how motivated I wake up. On a bad day I would take easily 8 coffees, on a good one, maybe 2 less
Sundays can be very productive for some and very unproductive for others. How do you spend yours?
I worked most of my Sundays when I worked in the gaming industry and although I got used to them eventually, today I learned how to cherish a Sunday off. Today, thankfully, Sunday is a day I spend with family and friends
Wine and cheese. Yes or no?
Much more like beer and burgers, but hey, I never complain. Wine and cheese will do just as well
If you were given a million euros, what would you indulge yourself with?
I’d spend that on travelling and for buying art.
Favourite place to holiday?
Went to Scotland 3 years ago, surrounded by an endless sea of green, mountains, valleys and lochs. The feeling of being in the middle of all that makes me feel insignificant and lucky at the same time. It’s a place where a wild hare has way more say and power than I do. I love that feeling. Today it’s what I look for in a holiday. Although sometimes a festival gives strangely the same sensation.
Thank you!
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