Trash polka tattoo style is probably the youngest among all their variety. Its history doesn’t go deep into the ancient times, it exists only a few decades. We actually can see as this phenomenon of modern culture develops and grows getting its fame. Though it does not have an exact date of its birth, but it is the only style which can proudly boast that it has parents. They are two artists who work together – Volko Merschky and Simone Pfaff.
They both grew up near German town Würzburg. Having an obvious talent and interest in art, they attended an artistic school. Later, Volko was studying interior design with architecture photography just before he became a tattoo artist and his future soulmate Simone was meanwhile working as a graphic designer.
It was more than 25 years ago when they’ve met each other, became a couple and started their creative collaboration. And this was probably the moment when trash polka tattoo style was born. The inspiration for the concept of upcoming style were tattoos of UN soldiers. Volko and Simone started making collages by cutting posters and other imagery out of magazines, newspapers, old photographs and added some drawn (mainly black and red) elements. They basically cut out the scenes of the modern life and routine and exposed them wider with obvious expressive and rebel shades. They just could not stand the disappointing reality and encouraged to action.
The collaboration of two artists lasts already for more than 25 years. And through all these years the brand new trash polka techniques had been developing and obtaining numerous admirers and followers among tattoo artists all over the world. But Volko Merschky and Simone Pfaff were the first. In 1998 they’ve started their current tattoo shop with a cool name “Buena Vista Tattoo Club” which can be fairly called the “Mekka” of Trash Polka Tattoo Style.
