F*** the Normal Path, Embodied by Marko Stamenkovic

Hello,

Once in a while, you come across human stories that inspire.  These stories come from all over the world...

from the guy who got dropped off at university with a thousand dollars and a bicycle,

to the tattoo artist who chose art over formal education. 

I recently had the opportunity to pick Marko Stamenkovic's brain in Bangkok, Thailand, as I work on my next project:

deconstruction of the tattoo practice from an amateur's perspective.

Stamenkovic gave me my first tattoo pen, cartridges, ink, ink cups, and high-quality practice skin.

As we smoked cigarrettes overlooking the city of Bangkok, I had to ask, 

"How did you get into tattooing?"

Stamenkovic smiled and took a deep breath.

"Well, I started tattooing as an apprentice before I was even 18.  I used to spend hours in my tattoo mentor's shop, watching and observing.  [Afterwards], I called my friend over and said, 'Hey, come here!!  Give me your skin!'"

-Marko Stamenkovic

Thus began a journey away from the standard path: get educated, get a job, get married, buy a house, have kids, and then die in a consumer-driven loop.

Marko Stamenkovic went on to a predetermined university where he was supposed to learn how to navigate this world.  At 38 years old today, Stamenkovic has been tattooing for over 20 years.

However, he didn't attend university.

Instead, Stamenkovic started tattooing even more.

What inspired me most was after having pored over his 700+ IG posts of tattoos of every imaginable type, color, and composition, is the commitment to the craft.

As I asked the most noobish-tattoo-related questions, mixed with nerd analytics and surveys, Marko Stamenkovic casually reported that he would be "judging" seven competitions in the coming months, with potentially more this year.  While I asked these questions, I did not get the feeling that Stamenkovic judged for the prestige.  He judged to mentor.  When I asked, "So, it's possible you love these events.  Because you're able to see the newest talent, your words and opinion are valued."  I remember wanting to say: 

"This is the life of a veteran tattoo artist in a community of artists."

Marko nodded contemplatively. 

While it was not an official interview, finding core patterns in people's stories is something I love & enjoy.  Our conversation on this tidbit ended with learning Stamenkovic now provides gainful employment to his first mentor at his tattoo shop in Serbia.

Marko Stamenkovic currently operates tattoo shops in Serbia, Thailand, and Dubai.

By Paul Park, Xtreme Team

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