Bastian Blau
“Omule : Hi Bastian . Can you tell me how everything started?”
“Bastian Blau : I was always interested in tattooing but I actually felt more like an artist, studied art and wanted to succeed as a painter. After I put all my energy and years of work in this I slowly realized that all this was just an illusion. The artscene didn’t want me and I hated them. At the same time I started to tattoo more and more and to create my style, that was nearly the total opposite to the way I painted. Totally free and fast. My painting was more figurative and realistic. But I found a way to use my skills to transform calligraphy into tattooing in a way nobody else does. But still I am at the beginning of this journey.”
“Omule : How would you describe your style?”
“Bastian Blau : Modern Dark Calligraphy .”
“Omule : Where do you get your inspiration from?”
“Bastian Blau : From everything around me I guess. I love ancient aesthetics and like to combine them with modern influences.”
“Omule : What is your ideal creative environment?”
“Bastian Blau : When it’s about tattooing creativity depends a lot on the vibes between me an my customer. I do most of my stuff freehand so it’s often a dialogue and the perfect environment is everywhere where great customers are.”
“Omule : Do you have any favorite artists from your industry?”
“Bastian Blau : There are just so many out there. But the reason I started to tattoo was that there wasn’t the one I wished to be.”
“Omule : Favourite place to go on a holiday.”
“Bastian Blau : I didn’t go on a holiday for a while. I’m addicted to productivity I guess.”
“Omule : What kind of books and movies do you like?”
“Bastian Blau : Favorit movies: Forrest Gump & Terminator 2
Books:yes it’s Harry Potter but definitely not the movies ”
“Omule : What superpower would you like to have and why?”
“Bastian Blau : Always fly! The ultimate relief.”
“Omule : What would be a great achievement for you?”
“Bastian Blau : To have a quiet beautiful place I can call my own where people from everywhere come to get tattooed.”
“Omule : What do you like the most about your work?”
“Bastian Blau : The fact that people proudly carry it around. ”
“Omule : What do you dislike the most about your work?”
“Bastian Blau : The fact that I hurt people physically.”
“Omule : What is your favourite kind of project?”
“Bastian Blau : I just enjoy when people understand my work and nothing pushes me more than the excitement it triggers.”
“Omule : Favorite places to visit and why ?”
“Bastian Blau : I have a place near my hometown that means a lot to me and I can’t wait to be there again on a warm summer dawn.”
“Omule : Can you remember some of your earliest influences?”
“Bastian Blau : From childhood on the aesthetic of death always frightened and fascinated me.”
“Omule : Which of your projects has been most important to developing your personal style?”
“Bastian Blau : I am not able to name a specific project but this whole year changed it all.”
“Omule : Would you say that keeping things simple is your strongest skill?”
“Bastian Blau : Not at all. I have a tendency to put a universe of details into things and had to learn to keep it simple.”
“Omule : What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given? ”
“Bastian Blau : Just listen to yourself and that was not an advice rather an experience.”
“Omule : What are some things you can’t do (or hate doing)?”
“Bastian Blau : I struggle to talk a lot and do this daily smalltalk. I am more a visual person than a linguistic.”
“Omule : What would you say to young/aspiring artists, to help them improve and find their way?”
“Bastian Blau : All u need is a vision of who u wanna be and then do everything that’s necessary to become that.”
“Omule : How much do you think tattoos are a private thing and how much are they a public thing, on show for other people?”
“Bastian Blau : I think it’s part of the nature of tattoos that they want to be shown. Even if not in public. They are the Perfect way to show ur inner, the things u like, ur aesthetic to others. There are so many people out there and it makes it so much easier to find out who the people are we deal with. ”
“Omule : Is there still a stigma attached to tattoos and tattooing?”
“Bastian Blau : There still is but that makes it more exciting in a way. We are in the middle of a process and this stigma will disappear.”
“Omule : What machines, inks and needles are you currently using?”
“Bastian Blau : Dynamic ink, Kwadron needles and Dan Kubin machines. ”
“Omule : Do you like attending Tattoo conventions ?”
“Bastian Blau : I never did but maybe I will try.”
“Omule : Cheers !”
