Check Out Ali Deeran’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ali Deeran.

Hi Ali, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I’m an LA-based abstract multimedia creator and tattoo artist. My journey didn’t start here, so I’ll give you the full story. I was born in Turkey, Istanbul, in 1994. I have been in love with art for as long as I can remember and consider myself a dreamer at heart. While my peers were playing outdoors, I observed my surroundings, wandered at the shores of my imagination, and gave them life on paper whenever I could. One day, in elementary school, my art teacher sketched out the skeletal system in the human anatomy on the blackboard. I was so amazed by the harmonic complexity of the human anatomy that I decided to elevate my interest to the professional level by learning the basics of drawing. This experience led me to dive into sketches of human anatomy later on the road. I spent my high school years preparing for the Plastic Arts. Living in a big city has its exclusive advantages; I found myself attending any art exhibition that would inspire and guide me.

I did various studies around abstract art and created countless surreal art such as Suminagashi in university. The art of Vasili Kandinski and Jackson Pollock had a massive impact on me. Thanks to the Plastic Arts, I had the opportunity to explore myself through many sub-fields, such as; sculpture, ceramics, acrylic, oil paint, serigraphy, and carving. Dealing with so many mediums broadened my perspective to the point where I searched for a distinctive canvas. That is when my human anatomy sketches from childhood gave me the idea. The most unique canvas is the human skin, after all. So that is how I met the art of tattooing, and at that moment, I knew, without a doubt, it would be my profession. My love for anatomy also led me to the art of body modification. So in my university years, I worked in the tattoo and body modification field while studying art simultaneously. After graduation, I continued working in both majors as a full-time professional. After a while, I decided to travel to various European cities as a guest artist to advance myself and expand my network. This led me to work with many social media influencers and collaborate with various brands.

I am a hard-working, self-disciplined person. The more I work, the more I thrive in life; I push my limits repeatedly to discover a new me through the process. And living life as an artist never disappointed me in this aspect.

In 2020, I decided to move to the US. For the last 3-4 months, I continue my tattoo works at the Fleur Noir Ink Tattoo Studio in Los Angeles. At the same time, to not let go of my large-scale artworks, I focus on my Suminagashi art. I’m currently in talks with different galleries for a potential exhibition.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Tattooing was less popular and common than it is today in the years when I started the profession. Besides, despite being in a big city like Istanbul, the industry had a dominant hierarchy within itself. Tattooing used to have a specific dynamic based only on the master-apprentice relationship, and there was no other alternative to learning the craft then.

In addition, it required effort and determination for an artist to find a place in a well-known tattoo studio. Today, those interested in this field are much more fortunate, especially regarding Tattoo education. Over the years, acquiring knowledge and equipment in this field has become easier, which I’m very supportive of. As a technical challenge, working on human skin had certain difficulties initially, which I’ve overcome through relentless practice. As distinct as people are, human skin is unique from person to person. It takes time, attention, caution, and care to recognize the interaction of ink and needles with various human skin types.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
In terms of art style, I specialize in dotwork (pointillism) and abstract liquid lines of Suminagashi. Puantilisim is composed of detailed dots that blend together, and I apply this technique to reflect smooth transitions of lights and shades of a form. Suminagashi is the Japanese art of marbling by using richly pigmented ink and manipulating it on the surface of the water to create distinctive patterns. I create Suminagashi for print and integrate it with my tattoo designs. In terms of composition, I would like to merge gothic elements with the elements of nature, such as Botanics and animals, in a surreal form. I occasionally incorporate a ‘negative space’ theme into my designs to spice things up!

What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
As in various areas of life, when it comes to art, the biggest obstacle in front of a person is themselves alone. For this reason, I learned that I had to constantly go beyond my comfort zone to discover unique ways of expression during the abstract journey of art. So much so that every artistic discovery of mine materialized as long as I surpassed myself. In the process, I realized how much courage it takes to adapt to a creative process that will not restrain my imagination with limiting beliefs. Being brave in combining the learned technical knowledge with imagination and pouring it into the creation process is essential. Being an entrepreneur in conveying my language of art to people transparently and inviting them to this abstract world that I have created has been an obstacle I had to overcome within myself throughout the journey. I don’t take it lightly that people choose to have my art on their bodies or on their walls, which is why I call them collectors of my art across the board. As I continue to build my network, I’m excited to meet with people and add them to my collectors’ community. Stay in touch!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.alideeran.art
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alideeran/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alideeran/

Image Credits
Photography by Doruk Seymen https://www.dorukseymen.com.tr/