Children of Culture | Jack Of All Trades: Little Swastika

Cultivation of surrounding primitive cultures, evolution through self education, and complete spiritual ties to the flesh; these are all things that   Little Swastika, manifests. He came into his own at a young age, and from starting out on a swiss army knife, I think it’s safe to say he’s certainly come a long way in his arts of the flesh and otherwise, as today he is viewed as a prodigy amongst the body-mod culture. While he has evolved into 21st century tattooing techniques, he still maintains a love for reverting to traditional means of tattooing. The DIY approach has really been all that he’s known, and the “‘build something new and then have a go at it’ approach is something,” he says, “I find deeply fascinating…” This do-it-yourself, street lifestyle he grew up knowing reflects in his work and seems to be responsible for his entire aesthetic; an aesthetic which comprises ornate and detailed imagery with raw, sketchy lines and technique.

Tattooing and body modification can be viewed as mere extensions upon the soul, and our means of merging the material with the spiritual. In some cultures, the swastika represents creation, which alone is the sole reason we are the beings we are. If we do not create, we cannot destroy, and if we cannot or will not destroy, we refuse to fully live.

L.S. doesn’t claim to be religious, but the basis of his work does revolve a lot around eastern ideology, and his modern typographic version of sanskrit is quite aesthetically pleasing. If you have not yet educated yourself on the true symbolism and meaning behind the swastika, then it is important to do so in order to truly understand L.S.’s purpose for his name and work. Being a native of Germany, he believes it to be crucial that everyone learns the symbol’s true origins in efforts to fight against the oppression of enlightenment and to revive the original ideologies associated with the swastikacrux. Practically every culture to exist has used the swastika in one way or another; all in light of positive influence and energy. I think this fact alone wholly speaks for itself in terms of defining Little Swastika as an individual in society, but more importantly as an artist.

One of, if not the, biggest aspects of L.S.’s work is the notion of freedom. One of his very first tattoos reads “feel free”. This is an important concept to grasp, especially if you ever want to get tattooed by little swasti; no work done by him on flesh is preconceived before the tattooing session, and is all worked freehand & part by part. He says that “its something that comes from my heart.” He views the entire body as a complete canvas, working primarily on large-scale body pieces and nothing says pure art ritual like being drenched in ink for hours on end.

While Little Swastika lives, eats, and breathes tattooing, he also shows skill in photographing his environment and painting his mind. His life itself is a work of art, from his time spent frequently suspending from hooks, immersing himself in cultures near and far, or even skating a few rounds in one of the many self-built ramps or empty pools. Honestly, it’s the beautiful individuals such as Little Swastika that are the reason I crave this thing called life and am inspired to engage in the culture and inter-connectivity of humankind.

Visit the L.S. website to learn more about his fleshly rituals, gain some new-found knowledge, browse more of his work, read his blog, or to even set up an appointment of your own! Also, take a peak into his life in and outside of that studio! :]