German-Iranian tattoo artist Mo Ganji wants to create simple images with a strong impact. Born in Iran but based out of Berlin, Ganji believes that it’s easier to “add and add” than to use limited tools to create something basic. This philosophy results in tattoos that appear to be just one line, and may also have something to do with his outlook on the world.

“My [former] career was based on values I don’t believe in,” Ganji told Tattrx. “A lot of people are in a similar situation, but nowadays … they’d rather live a “safe” life with a “safe” income and they are willing to sell their beliefs and their freedom for it…Painting, drawing and Tattooing gives me inner peace, because it feels natural to me. I need that peace, because it feels like the older I get, the sicker I get of the world around me.”

More info: moganji.com | Facebook | Instagram (h/t: tattrx)

“When it comes to life, I appreciate the simple things”

“Anyone can add and add and add. It gets very interesting when you have a limited range of tools to work with”

“Creating something simple is way more challenging to me than creating something complex”

“Before I started tattooing, I worked as a manager in the high-volume fashion industry for global companies”

“I traveled a lot, and I’ve seen where the clothing comes from”

“It took some years to realize what we are doing to those people on the other side on the world”

“And once you realize it, there are two ways of dealing with it. Either you care, or you don’t”

“The reason I started tattooing is because I do care”

“My [former] career was based on values I don’t believe in”

“A lot of people are in a similar situation, but nowadays…”

“they’d rather live a ‘safe’ life with a ‘safe’ income and they are willing to sell their beliefs and their freedom for it”

“And people who do that are also willing to sell one another, and the whole planet, for their own interests”

“The funny thing is that nothing with value can be bought”

“And values are what define us”