Tattoo Artist’s Yearbook: Sonia Cash, when tattoo art expresses body positivity

Once rebel, always rebel. This is the story of a tattoo artist who works in Berlin (in her private studio) and sends ethical messages through her Traditional creations.

Hi Sonia, you have been tattooing professionally since 2013 and every now and then you take a few months off to find new stimuli and influences, is that right?
Yeah, I just need my time in between to fall in love with tattooing again. You know, when I do the same thing every day all over again it makes me get bored and I lose my passion and inspiration (apart doing sport because there I feel disconnected from my brain and emotions!)

So I take a break from time to time – sometimes weeks, sometimes months – to renew my brain, charge the batteries and start with a bit of hunger.

I know your roots are in the punk, hardcore and psychobilly music scene…
That’s right. I’m still into the scene even though I don’t go out often anymore. Back then many bands inspired me with their courage in being tattooed because for me it was a very rebellious, beautiful and tough thing. I always have been a rebel and it felt natural for me to become a tattoo artist. By the way it was very hard to find an apprenticeship during my first steps.

Is Cash your real name or more of a tribute to Johnny or his wife June Carter Cash?
Obviously it’s because of Johnny. He is my idol, but I also like “cash” in terms of money. So it clicks together. (smiles)

I imagine your love for Traditional American tattoos and pin ups comes from your psychobilly listening. In addition to music, did you also study different tattoo artists to obtain that type of drawings, or do you consider yourself completely self-taught?
It all came together. I guess it’s a bit hard to reinvent the wheel today, so most of my drawings comes from the classic pin ups (and modern pin ups as well) connected to psychobilly music scene.

I’m inspired by so many tattoo artists so my arts is a big mix of everything with a sort of modern touch.

Do you think your style lately is evolving into a constant idea linked to body positivity? Your pin ups appear curvy and authoritative in their actions and this is good for the spirit of the times, right?
Yeah, it linked for sure to body positivity. I always looked at women’s body and didn’t understand why only one type of body is always idealized. So in my own world I see a woman body as a sacred and beautiful thing and I express that in the modern category of “body positivity”. For me it’s a normal thing, it’s like to design a clothing that fits every size and makes you look and feel fabulous!

Another peculiarity of your art is that your pin-ups, unlike those of the 50s, are also heavily tattooed and show off eloquent tattooed bodysuits. Is there a “message” in this too?
I think there is always a message when the client asks for it. Most of the time I try to suite the tattoos for the person who chooses it based on his/her intuition and staying faithful to the personality of his/her other tattoos.

Can you tell me a little about your origins and can you describe your private tattoo studio in Berlin?
I’m a Russian girl but I grew up in Israel and then moved to Berlin in 2017. I tattoo in a small private space because I feel that my clients are more confident and comfortable when they are face to face with me.

Are more women or men choosing to get tattooed by Sonia Cash?
I will say it’s 65% women and 35% men, but sometimes it changes…

What is the greatest lesson you have learnt so far from tattoo art…?
To be true to myself and keep to be inspired by my favorite artists. To travel and to work with the artists I admire and get tattooed by them.

Last question – your artistic desire that you would like to realize as soon as possible?
To create art that people will appreciate. Right now I have nothing else than this in my mind.

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