Emi: Blackouts, Body Confidence and Bodysuits

Noemi, known as @emi.enemies, works from a private studio in Milan. Her blackout and ornamental projects follow the natural lines of the body. Here, she discusses the influence of Effedots, her own four-year bodysuit journey, and how that experience informs her work with clients.

1. How did you first discover tattooing and what made you think, “This is what I want to do”?

I’ve always been fascinated by people who used their bodies to express themselves freely. Colourful hair, piercings, extravagant outfits, body mods, etc. Getting tattooed, for me, was just one of these tools, and as a kid, it was something I knew I wanted to have on my body.

Around the age of 16, after trying many times to stick and poke some stuff on myself (without knowing anything), my mum gave me my first tattoo machine. I didn’t start straight away, but for sure, that was the moment when I thought tattooing was going to become 100% part of my life.

2. Who or what influenced you most when you were developing your style?

Effedots is the one who influenced me the most. Seeing the change in my body through his work made me understand that I also wanted to work on large-scale projects, to give people the same feeling and confidence that I gained from my bodysuit.

He’s the one who gave me a lot of tips, helped me see the world of tattooing from a different perspective, and helped me through the difficult phase of understanding what I wanted to add to my own style.

“It’s elegant, simple, the opposite of chaos.”

— Emi

3. What does blackwork mean to you?

It’s elegant, simple, the opposite of chaos.

4. Does blackwork require a different understanding of composition than fine-line or colour tattooing?

I’d say that every style requires a specific understanding of composition. What I try to do with blackwork is follow the natural lines of the body, but that’s my personal choice and it’s not mandatory.

5. Why do you think some people are scared or intimidated by blackout tattoos?

Because they’re not used to seeing them. Blackout tattoos have started becoming more popular over the past two years, but they’re still seen as something really extreme.

The idea of something that is so permanent and that can’t be covered with something else scares people a lot. We live in a world where most people are scared of making bold choices, and getting a tattoo like this is exactly that.

6. What is your favourite body part to tattoo ornamentally?

I don’t have one specifically, but if I had to pick one, I’d choose the back because it’s the easiest for me to work on, and the chest/torso for the final result.

“I didn’t decide; it just came naturally.”

— Emi

7. Let’s talk about your own bodysuit. When did you decide you wanted a blackout/ornamental bodysuit?

I didn’t decide; it just came naturally. I went to Effedots for a front piece in 2022, and after the first session we decided that we wanted to extend the tattoo into a bodysuit.

I guess it was the perfect time. I was open to changing my aesthetic and I was madly in love with his work. Once I saw him working on me, I just took the chance to get a bodysuit from him.

8. How long did the entire process take?

We started in January 2022 and finished in March 2026, so just over four years… I didn’t count the hours, but I know it was around 45–46 sessions. Not all of them were full-day sessions, though. For the blackout parts, I was able to handle a maximum of 2–3 hours.

When we started, my plan was to try to finish everything in two or three years maximum. So, at the beginning, I was getting 2–3 sessions in a row every two months.

After the session on my collarbone, I decided to slow down a little bit. My pain tolerance went down completely.

9. Has having such an extensively tattooed body changed how you experience your physical appearance?

I’ve always felt confident in my body, so getting so heavily tattooed was just a new chapter and a new way to express myself. I didn’t do this to heal something or to feel better.

But of course, wearing such a piece of art makes me really proud and helps me like myself even more, especially when I’m not feeling 100% well!

It’s probably more that people on the outside are curious, or like me more or find me more interesting because of it, but I always feel the same, haha.

10. Having experienced such an extensive transformation of your own body and the pain that comes with it, do you feel it has given you a better understanding of what your clients go through?

Absolutely, yes. I’ve always been empathetic with my clients, but for sure, knowing firsthand what it means to get tattooed so heavily helps me be more honest and understanding with my clients.

Effedots was so caring with me and really helped me go through all of this, and I just want to do the same with my clients.

Follow Noemi on Instagram: @emi.enemies