Hans Pasztjerik - Mascotte
‘The Experts’ is a group of creatives who distinguish themselves in various disciplines. Mascotte went to Schiedam to speak to Hans Pasztjerik (1984): tattoo artist, professional kickboxer, and avid music lover. His tattoo shop Stay Classy, which many Dutch famous people visit, has become a phenomenon in the tattoo world.
Hans Pasztjerik
“I have two tattoo shops, one in Rotterdam and the other in Schiedam, and they take up all of my time. Especially as I’m also raising three daughters. When I was younger, I had no goals in life, no plans for the future whatsoever, and I thought life was a breeze. I found it hard to find the education that I really liked and I definitely had no calling or some dream career I wanted to pursue – which is why I dropped out of school. Visiting concerts and festivals - that’s what I enjoyed most."
"But when I was around 23 – and already covered in tattoos, mind you – a friend of mine asked me if I wanted to learn to ink as well. So I thought: “Why not?” I used to think that being a tattoo artist would be a tough call. But I’m doing really well now and it sure has its great moments. The coolest thing? Tattooing artists I love. Last year, I even got to ink Alt-J’s lead singer at the Best Kept Secret festival. That certainly was something I’ll never forget."
"When making tattoos, I prefer the traditional American style, old-school, with bold lines. Timeless and still readable after 20 years."
"You see them a lot in the port of Rotterdam, the real working class, Katendrecht feeling. If I had to choose the final tattoo I’d ever make? A rose, for sure. An old-school rose is the most beautiful thing. Yes, I’d call myself persistent, I mean, I work seven days a week. Discipline is important. During COVID-19, we had to close for six months, so I decided to print designs on T-shirts – as cool merchandise to sell in the shop. It is at moments like these that I unlock my inner survival mode. Never calling it quits."
"My father runs a kickboxing centre and I still compete in the A-class. I really enjoy that, to clear my head. But this is probably going to be my last year, as I’m getting older and it’s becoming nigh impossible to combine the two activities. Do I have any other hidden talents? Well, I’m a master in getting out of escape rooms and I really let my hair down when I’m dancing, ha-ha."
"A shop abroad would be one of my unfulfilled dreams. Somewhere I can bring my children on holidays. But that’s all, I think, I don’t have big wishes. All will be well.”