The Ink Factor

Biography Aspiring to be a tattoo artist in a Middle Eastern country like Syria was a dangerous passion in a strictly conservative homeland. In a city like Aleppo, a tattoo artist was regarded as a devil worshiper. I did not let stereotypes, discrimination, discouraging stigmas and social barriers stand between me and my ultimate dream. I grew up to conservative family that strongly values education and academic success. I was a smart kid who refused to do his homework because I was busy discovering skin art. To fulfill my parents’ wish, I continued my education and enrolled at the Faculty of Business and Economics at the University of Aleppo, but my brain was never made for books. I chose to study Business Administration in order to successfully establish a unique tattoo shop. In 2008, in spite of my family’s opposition, I invented a homemade tattoo machine. This tattoo machine was created from the smallest engine I had available: a 9-Volt stereo miniature DC motor. On my left arm, I tried my new machine and tattooed a beautiful piece inspired by the Pompeo Batoni’s Sacred Heart of Jesus painting. My family was convinced, many of my friends were amazed and I started building a reputation of talent. I tattooed more than 100 tattoos, many of which were free of charge. My circle of referrals expanded in no time and as soon as I was ready to take my work to another level Aleppo turned into the most dangerous city on earth. In 2014, I escaped my war-torn hometown Aleppo and moved to Sweden in search for a new life. My first tattoo machine, a piece of metal that represents my rebellion against my conditions, still exists and remains in the drawer of my childhood bedroom. Today, after 12 years in the skin art business, I established my first tattoo studio: The Ink Factor in the city of Västerås, Sweden. Sincerely, Abboud J. Azer, Tattoo Artist & Founder of The Ink Factor