Large-scale flowing blackwork across the back and legs by Dhen

Artist InterviewOct 22, 20263 min read

Dhen: Precision, Neo-Tribal and the Shape of the Body

Daniel, known as Dhen (@dhen_dh), learned to tattoo in Milan before moving to Turin in search of a calmer life and working environment. After thirteen years of tattooing, his focus is neo-tribal: precise blackwork shaped around each person’s musculature and curves. Here, he discusses learning by watching other artists, finding his style and making every project fit the body wearing it.

Neo-tribal blackwork across the torso and arms by Dhen

Symmetrical neo-tribal blackwork across the back by Dhen

1. How did you end up in the city you work in now?

I was born in Milan and learned to tattoo there; I moved to Turin to find greater peace and tranquility in both my life and my work.

2. Was there a particular artist, artwork, culture or movement that heavily influenced your work?

I have always drawn inspiration from many artists. While getting tattooed, I would observe how they worked, and I traveled to many conventions seeking out the artists I admired most, in order to learn more from them.

3. How has your style changed from when you first started tattooing until now?

I’ve been tattooing for 13 years. Back when I started, social media didn’t exist to help you figure out which style was the right fit for you, so I simply adapted and—in those early years—tattooed whatever the client asked for. More recently, after working with dotwork, I decided to specialize in neo-tribal; it feels more like me, and I love how it turns out differently with every client I meet.

Geometric blackwork across the abdomen and thigh by Dhen

Flowing blackwork across the back and hips by Dhen

4. How important is mathematical precision when creating your geometric tattoos?

Precision is everything in my work; smooth blackwork and perfect symmetry are the most fundamental aspects of my style.

“Precision is everything in my work; smooth blackwork and perfect symmetry are the most fundamental aspects of my style.”

— Daniel

5. Are there certain parts of the body that you particularly enjoy tattooing because of the way geometry or ornamentation interacts with them?

I love tattooing the front; I think it’s the area of the body that allows me to work best, and I have the right feel for it.

6. What’s hard about big projects like bodysuits or very big pieces?

The most difficult and important thing is to enhance each person’s musculature and curves.

Floral torso tattoo and flowing blackwork sleeves by Dhen

Blackwork sleeves with negative-space curves by Dhen

7. What’s the biggest piece you’ve done in one sitting?

The biggest piece I’ve done in a single session was a neo-tribal cover-up on an arm, completed entirely in one day.

8. You’ve said every piece is one of a kind, never repeated. Has a client ever asked for a design you’d already done for someone else?

I usually ask those contacting me for an appointment to send references, so I can best align myself with the client’s vision; however, I always emphasize that every project I undertake is unique and tailored to the individual’s body.

“every project I undertake is unique and tailored to the individual’s body.”

— Daniel

9. How do you get a client through the pain of a heavy session?

I usually use numbing creams; I’ve worked out the best approach to make the session minimally invasive and not too painful. However, I always try to break up the sessions in the best possible way—avoiding excessive stress on the skin while also keeping the post-session healing process in mind.