As tattoos become more popular, more and more people are searching for tattoo artists who have unique tattoo styles that separate them from their peers.
A tattoo makes you "different" in some way, after all. Isn't that part of the fun? A great number of artists are developing and evolving existing styles, but some seem to be taking a different approach.
An example of a breakaway tattoo style is Trash Polka, which is bold and stands out from the crowd. Trash Polka style tattoos are very appealing, but what are their advantages and disadvantages?
At Buena Vista Tattoo Club in Würzburg, Germany, Simone Plaff and Volko Merschky created the trash polka tattoo style. As in fine art collages, the style combines realistic imagery with smears, smudges, and kinetic elements that create a discordant, chaotic appearance to the composition. Text may also be used. In much the same way as a fine art painting, Trash Polka designs often reflect broader themes.
The only colours used in Trash Polka are red and black. In Volko's words, his style is a blend of "realism and trash; the natural world and the abstract; technology and man; past, present, and future; opposites that they are trying to inspire into a creative dance to harmony and rhythm in tune with the body". It is a very apt description and clearly the artists behind this style have thought it through carefully. Therefore, they have claimed the mark as (as of yet) an unofficial trademark.
In the same way that champagne isn't actually champagne if it isn't made in the Champagne region of France, only Trash Polka tattoos come from Buena Vista Tattoo Club shops. We are just now beginning to notice the style emerging in the US, so that statement has gone relatively unnoticed.
Trash Polka Tattoo Designs** and its History**
Originally from Germany, trash polka tattoos use black and red ink and collage-style patterns.
They look like a war zone due to the splatters and smudges that surround the design. It uses overlaid words and phrases and generally tries to confuse the viewer without providing any actual information.
Trickery and visual illusions are often employed. While it has a characteristic element of realism, it also employs a lot of juxtaposition in order to produce a stunningly beautiful tattoo that is both awe-inspiring and confusing.
