Diki — Hyper Realist

Hello, my name is Diki. I was born in Madiun, East Java — the easternmost city of the province. I grew up in the underground punk scene during my elementary school years, and it was in those days that I first discovered my passion for tattoos and graffiti. In 2010, I began experimenting by building my own tattoo machine using whatever I could find — a Tamiya dynamo and sewing needles. That handmade machine became my companion on the road, as my love for punk and Vespa culture shaped me into a nomad traveling across cities and provinces in Indonesia.

By 2013, I had gained the courage to participate in a tattoo festival in Malang, showcasing my work in the Darkside style, inspired heavily by Blackwork. Over time, I discovered the world of Realism tattoos — a style that fascinated me with its complexity. The challenge of shading with a round magnum needle quickly became an addiction, driving me to develop unique techniques and textures for every piece.

In 2018, I relocated to Bali, where I continued to grow as an artist. Though the pandemic briefly took me back home, I returned to Bali in 2022 — and here I remain, still chasing the art, passion, and stories that tattooing brings to life.