A figure in French tattooing, Bugs was one of the first professionals in the 1980s to introduce artistic concepts derived from painting into his works on skin, the cubist movement in particular. Thanks to pioneers like him, these avant-garde ideas helped the medium to emancipate itself from traditional styles and gradually allow it to become the vast field of artistic expression it is today. Now living in exile in the United States, Bugs shares some news of his quest for originality, which he pursues through tattooing, painting and sculpture.
In 1998 you were on the cover of Tatouage Magazine, a true pioneer, exiled in Great Britain. In 2023, you're still here. How do you see the road you've travelled?
It's been an exceptional adventure so far, and tattooing has given me a lot of satisfaction.
How do you explain your longevity in the business?
The longevity is due to my perseverance in wanting to do something different and to offer consistent quality. I've never stopped progressing and exploring new options in my creativity.
What words come to mind to describe it?
Avant-garde.
You now live in the United States, what has this expatriation brought you?
My aim was to devote more time to my art, which is why I decided to change my environment and start afresh. The USA was a new opportunity for me to achieve what I'd always dreamed of.
You paint a lot, how do you divide your time between tattooing and painting?
I continue to tattoo moderately and spend more time sculpting and painting.
Do the two inspire each other, or do they function independently?
The two techniques influence each other. I draw a lot of inspiration from painting for tattooing and vice versa.
How do you see the world of tattooing today and the explosion in its democratisation?
I think I was lucky to get involved at the right time. The best years are definitely behind us, and unfortunately I don't have a very positive image of what tattooing will be like in the future.
At the time, it seems to me that this was a hobbyhorse for you: is tattooing more than ever an art form?
Tattooing is an art in its own right, and I think I helped to innovate a certain style by introducing cubism.
When you started out, you brought your style, your artistic identity and your background to this still very traditional field. How do you see the current creative output and its originality?
I have to admit that there are some very interesting things out there, particularly in Western Europe.
Can you tell us a bit about how your style developed? It seems to me that your references include Mayol's sculptures, Gauguin's colours, Picasso's abstracts, cubic lines and Lolita Lempicka?
My influences are diverse. I explore and use all the sources I need to develop my own style. Cubism has always been my favourite movement, but I revise it in my own way and try to add a personal touch.
he search for novelty has long guided your art. What role does this quest play in your work today?
Occasionally, I improvise other styles such as watercolour, but always based on the idea of a painting.
The « Evil From The Needle » studio closed recently. How did you feel about the closure?
« Evil From The Needle » was created in 1986. I watched it grow and develop. I've devoted twenty years of my life to it and I'm deeply sorry to see it go.
You were tattooed by Allan in Marseille and Marcel in Paris, can you tell us about these episodes with two key figures in the history of tattooing in France?
I was lucky enough to be tattooed by two of the pillars of French tattooing and I'll never forget my sessions with Marcel, during which he'd often take a break to smoke a cigarette and run down to the local bar to bet on the drunks. + IG : @bugsartwork www.bugsartwork.com
