Stefania “Manekistefy” Cagnin is a tattoo artist specializing in traditional Japanese style (Horimono). She is a partner and co-founder, along with her husband Crez, of the Adrenalink Tattoo studio in Quinto di Treviso (TV). She has been tattooing since 2001, and since 2004 she has been working daily in her own personal style, which she developed through direct study with traditional tattooing families in Japan.
In short:
Manekistefy grew up in Noale, a medieval village in the province of Venice. Her passion for Japanese culture began as a child, through anime and manga. Her stage name embodies two of her loves: her love for the Land of the Rising Sun and her love for cats—“Manekineko” is the famous Japanese lucky cat from which she drew inspiration.
Since 1997, she has run Adrenalink Tattoo—a studio specializing in Japanese tattooing—together with her husband, Crez. She began tattooing in 2001 as Crez’s apprentice, and since 2004 she has been tattooing daily in her own unique style.
Since 2003, the couple has been traveling throughout Japan, working and gaining a deeper understanding of the culture firsthand. Manekistefy experiences Horimono firsthand, sharing knowledge with various traditional tattooing families. Along the way, she met Horihide from Yokosuka, the “legendary tattoo artist,” whom she considers her mentor.
In addition to tattooing, Manekistefy studies other aspects of Japanese culture: painting, religion, architecture, history, literature, the philosophy of aesthetics, and society. In his lectures, he has discussed classical Japanese tattooing and religious themes, delving in particular into the fascination with the “monstrous” and the “demonic” in traditional iconography.
These topics are also covered on the Adrenalink YouTube channel, a project she launched with her husband, Crez, to promote traditional Japanese tattoo culture through the couple’s firsthand experiences.
She has worked in numerous countries around the world, including the United States, Russia, China, Taiwan, Vietnam, Germany, France, Sweden, Norway, Spain, the Netherlands, and England. Over the years, she has also trained several apprentices as a master craftswoman.
In 2016, her solo exhibition *The Female Figure in Japanese Folklore* was held in Düsseldorf at the 1900 Gallery and in Rome at the Parione Gallery. She has also participated in numerous group exhibitions, including *Sante Peccatrici* in Milan and *Ladies Ladies Ladies* in New York.
His paintings have been published in the following collections:
Her works have been published in the book ‘Secret Garden’ edited by Okaasan Books, ‘By all means necessary’, ‘Eleven Fourteen’, ’30 Missing Heroes’ a project edited by Manekistefy and Crez for Tattoo Life.
In the 1990s, Manekistefy was very active in the punk rock and Oi! scene, organizing concerts and events. Music has always played a central role in her life: she sang and played bass in several bands, including Raptus, her most important and long-running project. Together with Crez, she also performed as a DJ with the Adrenalink Crew.
Her upcoming works are
Together with Crez, Manekistefy, along with the Munedaiko group, presents a live painting performance accompanied by the sound of Japanese drums (taiko). The sound of the taiko stirs emotional tensions that course through the body, bringing intense sensations to the surface—sensations made visible in the shapes and colors that emerge from the two artists’ brushes.
“I don’t see the Earth as something to be dominated, but as a living entity of which we are a part.” — Manekistefy
What kind of tattoos does Manekistefy do? Traditional Japanese tattooing (Horimono), developed through hands-on experience with traditional tattooing families in Japan since 2003.
Where does Manekistefy get tattoos? At Adrenalink Tattoo, the private studio she runs with her husband, Crez, in Quinto di Treviso (TV).
Who is Manekistefy’s mentor? Horihide of Yokosuka, considered one of Japan’s “legendary tattoo artists.”
Is Manekistefy featured in any publications or exhibitions? Yes: She has exhibited in solo shows in Düsseldorf and Rome, in group shows in Milan and New York, and her work has been published in the anthologies *Secret Garden*, *By All Means Necessary*, *Eleven Fourteen*, and *30 Missing Heroes*.
Does Manekistefy do anything else besides tattoos? Yes: he paints, gives lectures on Japanese culture and tattoos, works on art projects such as the Heroes Series and Me… Tiger, collaborates with the taiko group Munedaiko, and is a musician with a background in the punk rock and Oi! scenes.
Italiano