Tattoos With A Bang
An interview with tattoo artist Maxin Morozov
Many people are afraid to get a tattoo because they think it is painful, but one tattoo artist in lower Manhattan, Maxin Morozov, assures them that it not really painful, just uncomfortable. In fact, he says, he would “rather sit through numerous hours of getting tattooed than getting a shot” at the dentist.
For Mr. Morozov, who at 29 already has multiple detailed tattoos on his arms, tattooing is more than a job, it’s about connection, and, according to him, “it’s about making something great to satisfy the client and the artist within you.”
Mr. Morozov, who was born in Crimea, the disputed area on the Black Sea between Russia and Ukraine, spoke about the life of a tattoo artist during a recent interview at the Bang Bang tattoo parlor, located on 328 Broome street, where he has worked for the past six months.
Many trends can be traced back to Bang Bang. The dramatic black and white entrance emits a kind of magnetic energy palpable even from the outside. It is owned by a man who calls himself Bang, but his legal name is Keith McCurdy and he is from Delaware. The shop attracts a range of clientele, from high profile celebrities to neighborhood locals. Mr. Morozov, who works at Bang Bang four days a week, is known for his highly detailed black and grey realism. The detail and care he puts into his work make it time consuming; he usually only does one tattoo a day. Like many other tattoo artists, Mr. Morozov started working in graphic design and digital art, but he decided to switch to tattoo ink and needles.
Every tattoo is unique and part of what he loves about his job is the personal connection involved. People come in trusting the artists to bring visions to life.
“People get tattoos for different reasons — some cherish and value the meaning in them and some get it solely for the look of it but either way it has a story,” he said.
Mr. Morozov recounted a particular memorable experience involving a bald client looking to get tattoo hair. He turned out to be one of the happiest clients he ever had, Mr. Morozov said. “There is a little bit of magic involved” in the making of every tattoo, he added.
“Each tattoo is so unique to a client,” he said. “Some tattoos you have creative freedom to do. Every tattoo is my favorite up until the next one. “
