Davee Blows is a special case in the 21st century tattoo scene. Not only because the Polish tattooer is the creator of a unique style mixing the cultures of graffiti and irezumi - traditional Japanese tattooing - but also because he is one of the few living without a fixed address. For more than 10 years, he has been a "nomadic tattooer" as he likes to call himself, travelling to the four corners of the tattoo world. A lifestyle that normally makes one dream, but which has been considerably altered since the start of the pandemic, forcing this tireless traveller to review his priorities.
What has life been like for a 'nomadic tattooist' since the pandemic and the closure of borders?
First off, thank You for inviting me to this interview, there hasn't been many options to do them (interviews) over past two years - so it is awesome! I'm greateful for this opportunity. I moved out of my home country (Poland) for the first time when I was 19, just after finishing high school. I went to London, where I have stayed few months and worked two jobs, tattooing overnights 7 days a week. Soon after London, I went for my very first trip to Tokyo, Japan. And I was hooked since then! After that I started to travel more and more inside Europe (mostly for tattoo conventions, to get tattoos and such) and twice a year to my beloved Japan (to study culture). In January 2020, while I was in Australia, I have heard news about that Covid and soon after I stayed a month in Tokyo. Then London and Marrakech, just before flying off back to Poland. I have been stuck in my home country since then. It's been 20 months now ! It is hard but the way I look at it, as soon as they open borders again, I'll travel twice as much as previously haha - can't stop the mad one!
How long have you been on the road?
I've been travelling full time nomadic style since mid 2010. Ground breaking for me was a 2009, when I went for the very first time to Singapore. After that trip I decided to become full-time traveller. So, in early 2010, I gave up my comfy life back in Krakow then and went on a chase of nomadic lifestyle. I have never looked back and being all-year full-time traveller is the best thing that ever happened to me in my life! Right now it is 11th year since I intentionally become homeless and I have never feel happier! There is urban myth that I went on longest Guest Spot in tattoo history lol -first one took me a week, last one over 10 years!
In which ways these trips helped you grow as a tattoo artist?
Oh! Since the very first trip to Asia I was willing to learn and explore more of Japanese art and craftsmanship so, as soon as I got there, I went to meet the masters. Over the years, I have visited all major cities (and some small towns too) in Asia and met hundreds of Individuals who specialize in sacred art of tattooing (or Irezumi, wabori or Horimono and tebori ). I have had privilege to work and/or learn from a Great Masters like Sabado (Nagoya), Horimitsu (Tokyo) in Japan, Niccckuhori in Singapore, but also Diau An, Horishou, Diau Chi and Hori Tora from Kaohsiung, Zhonghli, Taichung in Taiwan, who's I become part of Family! But also in Japan Satoru Koizumi (Naha,Okinawa), Swallow Hiro (Kyoto) and awesome artists at Three Tides Tattoo to name a few. One of the greatest so-tebori artist Sousyu Hayashi from Okayama become one of my best friends. I have had privilege to travel and work and travel with on few occasions (and have had few lessons from) with great Asakusa Horiyasu from Tokyo. The list goes on and on. I'm super grateful for all those encounters and friendships! I'm mostly grateful for those all masters who were willing to share their knowledge with me. The more I travelled, the more I have had privilege to work (in studios or beside) some of the bests in industry like Ed Hardy on San Francisco, Pierre (Chapelan) in Montréal or with late Norm from LA. Adam Hathorn in San Diego, Robert Borbas from Hungary, Xiao Wu in Shanghai, Matt Jordan in New Zealand, I am happy and proud to call them friends! I have had learn tons from all of them. Well, I could be mentioning names for hours, so there's just a few!
What did you learn on the road and from them that you would not have learned otherwise?
In 2022 We will become more meta than ever, but I don't know whether I'm getting old or world spins too fast but I don't like this digital era too much. I'm always saying if they would switch off internet today, I'd be happier than ever! What I'm saying is, Tattooing is about PEOPLE. So is travelling. Social interaction weather one is introverted or an extrovert is necessity. I have had months of travels when I was alone or with people but there is nothing like lonely trips across the whole world to learn about yourself. It might sounds corny, but it is truth! One can learn a lot about oneself and You won't get it by staying in comfort zone.
Being a permanent tattooer on the road is not common. Do you know other tattooers living this way?
When I started, there were few who were doing it, but within some time they all eventually settled down. I remember speaking with Chad Koeplinger (American tattooer) back in 2012 in Nicckus studio in Singapore about that. We are rare breed, because most tattooers want to follow this path, but within few months they either get home sick or back to work in favourite shop full time - which lead to settling down. I'm nowhere close to this plan. Travelling after Covid will be more tricky and fun - let's all hope so the world will be back to normal sometime soon. To answer the question -I know who was there in the past- like who did tattoos on all 7 continents, there were only three tattooers in history : later Lyle Tuttle, Adam Wu and Myself. I usually am informed who travel and to where and I know people who do so. Some others travel with longer periods, they move from one country to another every 6-12 months. I like to do it on weekly max monthly basis so there is different styles of nomad travellers and we all create game rules for us! Honestly, I don't think there was anyone who have had around 100 flights each year (2017-2018) and visited over 45 countries in just these three years so that 'd make me most crazy traveller in last few years globally in our industry!!
What are the worst aspects of a lifestyle like this?
There's health conditions like Insomnia (caused by jetlags), bad irregular diet (obesity) and bad mental health (in some cases, for me though travelling keeps me sane and it's a cure !). Some people experience burn out and it's almost impossible to keep any regular habits. It's tiring. But it's exciting, inspiring and life-changing experience so I wouldn't have it any other way!
Regarding your style, graffiti seems to have been a determining influence in your career. Can you tell us about it?
When I first started back in 1997 I have felt it'll be my life long mission to draw on walls/trains/cars what not! Since I was a kid I was attracted to colourful pictures weather on paper, wall or skin, so trying out a new media for me came naturally. Today, on the other hand, graffiti as We knew it (growing up) is almost dead but for me it is my way of sharing different form of art on the walls in almost all the cities/countries I got to visit. I treat it as I'm leaving my mark/trace everywhere I go for locals and tourists alike to enjoy!
How did you get into tattooing?
When me and my crewmates were around 13-14 we all have had that urge to get tattoos, but since We were dead broke- one of Us have had to pick up a machine, and since I was more of an illustrator (I painted characters and such) I become the one who would become tattooer for all of Us. Basement style, but You know how it is, good old days. I have never had an apprenticeship. I have just learn from the great people who I got tattoo from. The best way to learn I think is to travel & collect works from people who You are looking up to!
You make big pieces, very legible, with bright colours. Do you feel like you're doing graffiti on skin ?
What I think of I'm doing is "bombing" on skin, leaving the trace with love.
How did the panther head motif, which belongs to the tattoo culture, become this kind of obsession that makes it appear almost everywhere in your work?
I always loved the idea of "East meets West". Panthers are just so cool! When I worked for the first time at Ed Hardy's Tattoo City- I got a nice long conversations with the man himself about panthers and when We shared a stories, I got blessed by panther god, to go and make more of them around the world. I kind of think of it as a torch carrying mission since then on. Been doing them since 2011 and more are coming up very soon.
Your tattoos are a kind of synthesis between newschool XXXL (for the saturated colours and the exaggerated side of the motifs) and Japanese tattooing. How do you do it ?
That's a mix of all I have learned, seen or experienced presented in my works. You hot roughness or edge of street (graffiti) blend with that big contrasted colors and exacurated outlines with Asian aesthetics and imagery which I love so truly. I will keep trying developing that style forever:)
What are your main artistic influences?
I'd always be inspired by Chinese, Japanese and Korean folk art, as well as European medieval painting and American 20th century pop art. Over last few years, I have put more effort to develop my own way of drawing/painting/tattooing objects, so I have stopped to looking at other art forms and I don't look at tattoos too much these days in order not to get over inspired. I'm trying to live for my own small legacy and rather would make tattoos that look like "Davee did it". Whether They like it or not, I hope they can see an unique approach. I love to educate myself about different tattoo styles, techniques and cultures and merge them with my own graffiti approach to create custom unique tattoos designed for individuals. This is a plan for next decade to make them even more distinct. Let's hope I can achieve it.
Painting seems to have become an important part of your artistic activity since the pandemic and you recently organised an exhibition of paintings in Poland. How is your time divided between tattooing and painting?
Recently, since the pandemic started, I took care of my health and took it easier on work (which was kinda forced on Us all), before pandemic I would spend 12h a day in studios around the world, working like mad man and if I wanted to paint, I'd do it overnights. Then, my days could be like 9-9pm work and painting till 2-3am on some days. It wasn't efficient. Now with my new work schedule - I'm taking on one appointment a day- which lasts between 3-5hours total, and after work I still have plenty of time to paint and/or exercise. To sum it up : I have not taken any time off from painting since I was a kid, but with my new schedule I can easily squeeze in 4-5h a day to paint and I'm super happy about it! In 2021, I have painted over 55 1x1m acrylic paintings and I have exhibited most of it at my solo show @Machinarium gallery in Katowice, Poland and show was great success taken, that We were still under semi- lockdown, most of great artists We know was invited and all paintings were sold so I guess people loved it! I will paint until I die haha! + IG : @daveeblows
