Satapak Tattoo Bali

Satapak Tattoo Bali is a studio in the Peliatan area of central Ubud, opened in 2019 by Areu Pendul, who spends half the year in Bali and half in Hamburg, where a second Satapak studio opened in 2020. The word satapak comes from Sundanese and means a path through the rice field. The Ubud studio has two tattoo chairs and a platform for traditional hand tapping, and is open every day from 10:00 to 22:00.

Techniques and artists

Tattoos are done by machine, by handpoke and by hand tapping. Handpoke uses a sterile needle on a wooden handle and places the design dot by dot. Hand tapping uses two ironwood handles, one holding a needle and one used to tap it into the skin, and needs an assistant to stretch the skin. For this the studio works with hand-tapping artists from Kalimantan (Borneo) and the Mentawai Islands, who either share traditional tribal motifs or create custom designs. The wider team consists of Indonesian artists who each specialize in one style, for example Barong designs, mandala work or blackwork.

Booking, prices and healing

Walk-ins are possible, but a message on WhatsApp beforehand makes sure an artist is free. Appointments can usually be arranged within a few days. Prices depend on time, design, placement and technique, and a fixed price is quoted once the design is finished. Consultations are free, and a design normally takes a few days to two weeks. Machine tattoos should be booked near the end of a trip, because fresh work has to stay out of the sea and pool. Handpoke and hand-tapped tattoos are less invasive, and swimming is possible after about three days. Imported inks and vegan ink are used, and the studio follows European hygiene standards.