TATTOO TALES

By Stef BastiànSociety & Culture Business Arts Visual Arts Careers

TATTOO TALES episodes

June 18, 2020 13. ROBERT RYAN- Spirituality, traditional foundations and contract killers
Some people keep traditions alive, some people push boundaries, others implement their own vision in within a well understood and processed style.
Robert is one of the latter.
He absorbed the foundations of American Traditional over a long career, crossing paths with some icons such as Dan Higgs and Scott Harrison, translating that beautiful codified language of symbols into a mirror facing inward.

His own spiritual practice reflects in his illustrations with the raw power typical of Outsider art and Expressionism, a way to represent reality that goes beyond reality itself.
With many interests and viewpoints in common, the chat with Robert couldn’t have been but awesome. In this episode we touched many topics, from the basics of traditional tattoooing to the implications of spirituality in Robert’s work and life lessons from a seasoned contract killer.

I hope you enjoy :)
Stef Bastiàn

Find Robert on Instagram
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55 min
May 25, 2020 12. SHAWN BARBER- Life through the eyes of a painter
I remember how I used to look at Shawn’s paintings 10yrs ago, amazed by his masterful use of color, composition and personal interpretation of the subject. A fresh voice in the tattoo world. It’s beautiful to have witnessed his personal artistic trajectory which reflects his own journey of growth and self discovery.
Today Shawn is a mature artist with a sensitive look on life, reflected through his brushes, and a strong voice in the art and tattoo community. It’s been an absolute pleasure to pick the brain of a painter to see how the world looks through his colored spectacles.

Follow Shawn on Instagram and on sdbarber.com

Interview by Stef Bastiàn
40 min
May 17, 2020 11. TERRY MANTON- The history of Scottish Tattooing
Why is important to learn about the past? Studying where we come from allows us to understand where we’re at today, to develop appreciation for what we have and to treat it with respect, going beyond short-sighted personal interests in the eyes of a bigger picture.

Today we have Terry Manton, a retired tattooer from Glasgow that took on the mission of organically searching on Scottish tattooing history and its most influential representatives from the end of 19th century onward. His investigative work is nothing short than impressive, beaten only by his computer-like memory.

I hope you enjoy this 45’ traveling back in time, I surely did.

Find more on Terry’s work on Instagram and Princevallar.co.uk
42 min
May 07, 2020 10. SHANE ENHOLM- All you gotta be is real
Tattooer, punk rocker, bank robber, surfer, musician... it’s hard to put Shane in a box.
His life could be a movie, a good one, made of passion, defeat, revelations and love. Love for what life is, for the good and for the bad.
In his words there is the honest portrait of a man who learned the most precious lessons the hard way and that is never afraid of being real.
It’s been a privilege to listen to his stories and peek into his big heart.

Find Shane on Instagram
Get his record at Outrorecords
Follow the podcast’s updates on Instagram
Host Stef Bastiàn
1 hr 16 min
April 27, 2020 9. HANNAH WOLF- Knowledge is power
This episode is a bit different from what you’re used to. Dense and informative, it shines a light on a new publication, “The science of tattooing”, and those questions not many of us are really able to answer to.

The author Hannah Wolf is an American tattooer with almost two decades of experience who took on the task of answering those questions. Her new book wants to be a tool for professional tattooers to be better equipped when facing the growing presence of the government in this industry and help shape the future guidelines that will define it.
It’s no mistery the fact that who writes legislations for tattooing has often no specific qualifications and understanding of the business from within nor its best interest at heart. Behind the allegedly public’s safety too often there are economic profits.

It’s up to us to take this matters back in our hands as businesses if we want to avoid being swallowed up by bureaucrats and multinationals. How? Educating ourselves and getting involved.
As Hannah says, knowledge is power.

Find Hannah on Instagram
Find Hannah’s book on thescienceoftattooing.com
Contact: [email protected]
European Society of Tattoo and Pigment Research: estpresearch.org
Estp book here
Follow the podcast’s updates on Instagram
Host Stef Bastiàn

1 hr 5 min
April 11, 2020 8. YUSHI HORIKICHI- Japanese working longevity
On a beautiful New Zealand summer night in Tapua, with the background of the crickets chirping, I had the pleasure of having a nice chat with Yushi.
He’s on a world tour with his beautiful family and for a coincidence(is there such a thing?) we happened to meet at Gordon Toi’s house, sharing insights on his over 20yrs career and Japanese working ethics. ⁣
At the end of the interview I share my 2 cents on how to make the most of this time where we’re globally in lockdown. ⁣

I hope you’re all safe and enjoy this talk⁣

Take care :)⁣
⁣

Stef Bastiàn ⁣
⁣

Find YUSHI on Instagram
Follow the podcast’s updates on Instagram
Host Stef Bastiàn

56 min
February 27, 2020 7. GORDON TOI- The Maori pride of a native
I’ve been really looking forward to this episode. This year I came back to New Zealand and I couldn’t miss the opportunity to interview a tattooer truly representating the local indigenous culture: the Maori.
Gordon Toi is the man. Over his quarter of a century long career he fought to give Moko back the dignity it deserves, after seeing an involution due to British colonization.
Through the course of this interview I learned about the pride and connection Maori people have with their art forms, their families and their land. Their tattooing can’t be separated from this context, each and every aspect contributes to shape their core identity.
If you want to understand their tattooing, you need to understand their traditions.

I hope you enjoy this episode as much as I did and you bring home a little bit of Gordon and his people’s spirit and passion.

You can follow Gordon on Instagram and on Facebook
Follow the podcast’s updates on Instagram
Host Stef Bastiàn

1 hr 12 min
February 05, 2020 6. DEAN SACRED- New Zealand tattooing and Nicholas Cage
At the other very end of the world, Auckland New Zealand, I’ve met with Dean for an honest, refreshing chat.
Dean is one of the finest tattooers this country ever produced and he influenced a whole generation with his incredible Japanese large scale work. His competence and talent are surpassed only by his humbleness, which amplifies his achievements and it’s a trait which sets him apart.
I hope you enjoy the experience and the understanding of a man who navigated this business for 25 years at the highest levels.

You can find Dean on Instagram and at sacredtattooshop.com
Follow the podcast’s updates on Instagram
Host Stef Bastiàn

58 min
October 08, 2019 5. ANDREAS COENEN- Giving back to the trade
An honest talk with a dedicated man who found his purpose over a long career and puts his heart in front of every decision he makes. This is Andreas in a nutshell. Committed, inspired, concerned about giving back to the very trade he dedicated his life to and most of all honest, to himself above everything.
I really enjoyed this afternoon spent with him in his house in Aachen, Germany, surrounded by his impressive artworks collection and his never ending projects.

Find Andreas on Instagram and The Sinner and The Saint
Follow the podcast’s updates on Instagram
Host Stef Bastiàn

1 hr 12 min
September 04, 2019 4. RAMBO- Old school and memorabilia
This time I ended up in Manchester to meet up with local legend Rambo, owner of what has become one of the city’s landmarks, the historical RAMBO’S TATTOO PARLOUR.
Recorded in the pub he owns next door, this talk was another beautiful journey in the history of British tattooing by one of its most iconic and knowledged characters. Rambo describes his upbringing in days where tattooing was very much different, walking us through his tattoo memorabilia collection(one of the most complete and prestigious in the world) and sharing priceless insights from his 35 years long career.
I apologize for the quality of the audio but this as well is the beauty of being on the road, sometimes you end recording in an English pub and it can’t get more authentic than that :)

Find Rambo on Instagram
Follow the podcast’s updates on Instagram
Host Stef Bastiàn
1 hr 6 min

About TATTOO TALES

From the publisher's feed

Go to the roots, not to the fruits.

I’m your host, Stef Bastiàn, tattooer with over twenty years of experience, traveler, painter, coach. Join me to improve your artistic, personal and…