Sekala 369: The Art of Tattoos and Cultural Preservation
After spending many years living and building a career in The Netherlands, tattoo artist and creative practitioner Ade Itameda returned to Indonesia to open his very own tattoo studio. Established in 2018, Sekala 369 is a tattoo studio located in the Kerobokan area, Bali, setting itself apart from the ever growing tattoo industry in Bali by priding themselves in a tattoo style heavily inspired by and that hopes to honor rich and extensive Indonesian traditional heritage.
“I used to live in Europe, in The Netherlands” Ade began. “I came back to Indonesia. Initially I was going to stay in Jakarta but it just didn’t suit me. But because many of the topics I dive into are based here in Bali, I decided to spend a year here. Do some research and look for what I really want. In the end, I opened Sekala in 2018.” In August, 2019, Eka Mardiyasa, a fellow tattoo artist joined the studio. Ade explained that in his experience in the Netherlands, culture became a way for him to set his practice apart from other tattoo artists. “For me, The Netherlands is quite spiritual. Because we are trying to find out what we like. In the end, I feel that my strength [as a tattoo artist] is because I have Indonesian culture, that's why [Sekala 369] focuses on that,” he continued to elaborate.
Influenced by Ade’s Javanese heritage and Eka’s Balinese heritage, Sekala 369’s art style relies heavily on a variety of Indonesia’s rich cultural inheritance—from batik, traditional textiles, Balinese carvings, to old Wayang puppet tales. As such, the tattoo design process often requires thorough and open discussion between Ade and Eka as artists and the clients. Ade explained that it is important for him and the client to be on the same page regarding the significance and meaning of the imagery requested and how that translates to the design itself but also things like the placement of the tattoo.
Keeping this in mind, it is no surprise that the majority of tattoos in the Sekala 369 portfolio are customs. However, this doesn’t mean that they avoid designing flash tattoos entirely. Flash tattoos are pre-designed tattoos by the artist without prior consultation with the client. “But we still mostly take the time to explain it to the clients. Because when I was abroad, the problem for me, and still today, is that tattoos are something that is like, you come, get it, finish it, then we don't discuss it. That's valid but for me the better step for something that is very personal and lasts a lifetime [should be] discussion.” He went on to explain that this can often involve discussing cultural taboos or the context of the imagery. For example, Ade had often encountered people in The Netherlands getting scary looking Balinese barong tattoos with long fangs which is something of a taboo considering the barong is meant to represent the force of good in Balinese culture. “So we at least have time to explain and discuss,” said Ade. This conversation is especially crucial considering the non-stationary nature of tattoos.
Sekala 369’s focus and dedication to culture sets the studio apart from a majority of the tattoo industry in Bali which seems to be growing endlessly. “We are very interested in culture. For example, Eka's imagery is a twist between American traditional tattoo style, Japanese elements, and Balinese elements. My base is old school tattoo and tribal combined with Balinese ornaments...For me, when we have the chance to create something new, well why not? And for me, Bali is very rich in culture,” Ade elaborated. As such, research is key in pinning down how to best implement a tattoo design appropriately and this investigation to seek the line in the sand in itself becomes an interesting endeavour for Sekala 369 with Ade and Eka implementing a unique Indonesianness in their tattoo designs.
There is also the matter of the significance of tattoos in many Asian and Indigenous cultures. Tattoos often play a significant role in many cultural rituals—commendations of milestones and achievements. Ade is conscious of how this often sits opposed to the origins of tattoo cultures in the West, which may have less than complementary connotations. “Their starting point is not as luxurious as ours. So the perspective is different… For me, there are many rules, especially in Asia. Because we are tapping into a culture and tradition that is still alive,” Ade explained.
Both Ade and Eka also take on creative pursuit outside of tattoos. “That's our daily life. If we’re not tattooing, we draw. So we look for any output we can do,” Ade explained. Sekala 369 has previously collaborated with several brands including Compass, Asics, and Von Dutch. Both Ade and Eka also paint in their spare time. Eka in particular has created many artworks and gig posters for a number of bands and musicians including Navicula, Tjok Bagus, DEVILDICE, and more.
Going forward, Ade hopes Sekala 369 can serve as a vessel to discuss culture, bringing tradition to the forefront of modern culture. Ade understands that preserving culture and tradition can be a thankless and often economically infeasible pursuit. “That's why I'm trying to share that Sekala wants to be a place for, for example, a traditional dancer, how Sekala's auspices can allow them also make money,” Ade elaborated. For him, Sekala 369 can hopefully serve as a way to keep these cultures and traditions alive. Eka reiterated this hope. He hopes that Balinese youth in particular will take on a more appreciative attitude to Balinese culture. “People from outside the country come here to learn [our] culture. Why don't we maintain our roots first?” Eka said.
