🔻DEN HELIGA GRALEN🔻
A ceremonial, kind and mindful handpoke tattoo studio in Malmö ✨
The tattoo artist is me, Sofia, an illustrator & visual artist who gets inspired by Mama Nature, magic, wonder and peoples' stories, as well as ancient and indigenous ways of tattooing.
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You are welcome to drop into my studio to discuss any tattoo ideas you might have, or email your ideas to den.heliga.gralen@gmail.com
I describe the procedure of booking in my stories: instagram.com/den.heliga.gralen
I have no set opening hours, but I spend a lot of time in the studio so chances are I will be there if you drop by. Otherwise, please send me an email or instagram message to check when I'm there.
We share space with the adorable vintage antique store Kittens & Kiwi on Trelleborgsgatan 20, close to Nobeltorget in Malmö.
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When there is a sketch and a price agreed upon, we'll book a tattoo appointment.
I charge a booking fee/deposit of 500SEK, which later will be a part of the cost of the tattoo.
Prices depend on size and complexity, so when I know what you want and how big you want it, I can tell you a price – usually somewhere between 1500–5000 SEK.
I accept swish, card and cash.
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Handpoked tattoos take longer to make than machine-made ones, and therefore the tattoos I make are usually small–medium sized (see the pictures and you'll get the idea).
I use a vegan black ink made by Kuro Sumi that is compatible with the new REACH regulations for tattoo inks within the EU, which means it is safer for the skin.
After getting tattooed, you need to stay away from lakes, seas, saunas and swimming pools for 7–10 days.
💌 For any questions, please email me at den.heliga.gralen@gmail.com or pop by the studio.
🌟 For tattoo client testimonials, please check the Clients tab on this website and my studio's reviews on Google Maps.
💬 Q&A 💭
Q: What is handpoke?
A: It's tattooing without a machine. I hold a tattoo needle in my hand, dip it in ink and create the tattoo dotwork-style, by penetrating the skin dot by dot to about 1 mm depth (the middle skin layer).
It's a calm and quiet process that allows for talking, resting and music because there's no buzzing machine sound.
Q: Is it safe?
A: Yes, since I follow the guidelines set by the Swedish hygiene authorities (Miljöförvaltningen) which has inspected and approved he studio. I use the same kind of equipment as would someone who tattoos with a machine – sterile needles, tattoo ink etc. If you have any questions around equipment, hygiene, or whether a specific health condition is compatible with tattooing, you're welcome to ask.
Q: Is it painful?
A: It feels like being bit by a tiny mosquito a million times. It is slightly more annoying than painful, but after a while the skin numbs out. It is generally less painful than machine tattooing. Still, some places on the body are more pain sensitive than others (like the ribs), and people have different levels of pain tolerance as well.
Q: What is ceremonial tattooing?
A: It becomes a ceremony because of the intention carried behind it. I see tattooing as something sacred – we're permanently putting a mark on the skin, the only skin you're given in this life, and I get a person's trust to do that. That's grand. It's a process where a person's inner reality becomes visible on the outside, and I feel honored to be a part of that process. The level of ritual/ceremony in a tattoo session depends on the client's interest, and it is something that we cocreate if the willingness is there. Let me know if you have any wishes for this.
Q: What do you mean by Den Heliga Gralen (The Holy Grail)?
A: The holy grail is a metaphor for the womb, which symbolizes creativity and life force. Our connection to nature, earth, soil, the elements, the holy, the mystery, and the wisdom of our own bodies.
I bring this into my tattoo sessions, which tend to become like long, calm meditation sessions. Before I start to poke, I bless the person's tattoo, infusing it with my best wishes for the their path. Sometimes I sing to people while tattooing. Sometimes they fall asleep.
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The three photos furthest on top of this page are taken by Cim Ek.
