A HAPPINESS PROJECT

CALLIE EH

// For Callie Eh photography was a lifesaver. It picked her up at a difficult time in her life and has not let her go ever since. The photo series she shared with us is from her “Happiness Project” and shows a skilled, creative, and passionate tattoo artist, Michał Dudek, from Poland.

Originally from Malaysia, Callie has lived in various countries and is now based in Zurich, Switzerland. Callie started taking photos as a hobby in 2008 but becoming a serious photographer was not in her plans. At least not until 2015 when she moved to Poland, and her work was discovered by Gaston Sitbon, a café owner. An intense documentary workshop in Krakow in 2016 deeply changed her photographic point of view. Callie´s goal is for her photography to be recognised internationally and to show her work to a broader audience, for people to enjoy and appreciate it. We hope to make a small contribution to this goal.

“Photography helps people to see.”

Berenice Abbott

What draws you to the arts?

“For me, art is something that you make others see, that has the power to transform, inspire, motivate, and be creative.”

What impressed you most about this tattoo artist?

“I love Michal´s work, what impressed me is that, although he is a self-taught tattoo artist, his tattoo artwork emphasises shading with an ultra-delicate line, intricate works, and features such as his trademark pointillist style.”

The Polish tattoo artist Michał Dudek has had a talent for drawing since he was a child. He wanted to put his skills to good use and decided to transfer his drawings from paper onto human skin. Becoming an artist was not a fairy tale for him, he knew that this was the right job for him, as he had always been fascinated by tattoos – the art of immortalising images on the human body. He studied computer graphics and made his first tattoos in his living room.

Now has been working in the tattoo industry for seven years, and it gives him a lot of joy. He can fulfil himself in his profession, and he believes that in life you have to do what you love. He likes making realistic tattoos best. Four years ago, he decided to open his own salon, Dudi Ink Tattoo Studio, in Wroclaw.

Callie asked Michał for her photographic “Happiness Project” what makes him happy, and this is what he said: “Making tattoos for people, so that they are happy.”

We hope that looking at Callie´s beautiful photos of Michal´s work process also makes you happy.

Images may be cropped for layout. Click on the photos to see the original version.