Against the Coronavirus, some actions are being settled here and there to help. On his side, Italien tattooer Stef Bastian is mobilizing the tattoo community through a huge online auction sale entitled Frontline. Launched last Saturday on his website and open until next saturday April 18th, it is a rare opportunity to buy an original artwork from one of the 282 tattooers who accepted to participate and contribute to supporting the health care people: the ones in the frontline in the battle against the pandemy.
When did you feel the need to do something against the Covid-19?
I’ve been doing already a couple of big charity projects in the last couple of years (The march of the Matryoshkas, 66 artists-; The tattoo fan club, 185 artists). This year I wanted to take a break because I’m working on a book for an exhibition in London in July, if that still going to happen. But one week ago I really felt compelled to do something because it is obviously a subject that touches everybody. It felt right. It’s important for me to be moved initially by what I consider the right reasons, which means something I can be of a contribution. This word is very important, one of my top priorities. What do I bring to the game?
You’re Italian, from Florence, and Italy has been especially hit by the virus. How did it influence you?
It obviously influenced me because, even if I hadn’t been in Italy for quite some time now, I have family there and friends and they keep me updated about how it is. Because Italy is the worst country after China, you feel obviously close by. But honestly, I try not to think in these terms. I have a very specific view on things and for me you shouldn’t make a difference when people suffer and who they are. Problems are problems, no matter where you’re from.
What feedback did you have from the tattoo community?
Amazing. Usually, if the idea is good and especially when there is a great cause behind, the feedback is good. This time it’s been overwhelmingly positive. For once, there are no borders, no flags, no countries, we’re all in the same shit. People felt compelled to help because they’re going to know, have heard about somebody close to them who is in trouble. I’m just the glue and the artists are the blocks.
Where will the money go to?
The money will go to hospitals around the world or associations that help with a shortage of protected gear for the staff that work in the front line. It’s been very hard to choose, I spent week, days and nights looking into the stuff until my brain was seriously boiling. I just looked in the end to the official statistics of the spread of infection and picked up the first three countries: USA, Italy, Spain.
The auction started last Saturday right?
Yes, it has been launched on a proper website (http://www.stefbastian.com/auction/) with an auction software like eBay. I’ve been using this stuff for the last two years and it works. It will end on April 18th in the evening. When the countdown shuts down, the website shutsdown. Then I will personally contact each winner with instructions on how to pay -people will have to pay directly to the charity or the hospital before coming back to me with a receipt- and receive the artworks. They will be sent by the artists, who will be responsible for the shipping.
How many artists answered?
There are 282 artists. That’s a lot of people and it was only by invitation. In this project you really have some of the best names in the business, some pillars of this industry like: Paul Dobleman, Tim Hendricks, Juan Puente, Robert Atkinson, Brian Bruno, Alex Binnie, Jojo Ackermann, Chad Koeplinger, etc. Some artworks are specifically drawn for the exhibition, some not. There is no theme, it was completely free.
Tell us about the design of the nurse you chose as an illustration for this event that has roots in the tattoo culture and more precisely in the traditional American style iconography…
Yes, it’s called the Rose of No Man’s Land and it’s been around for a while. It was very appropriate for this auction. This nurse dresses in white, with a red cross behind and she was almost seen as an angel. If you see this figure and you were wounded on the battlefield, it meant that you might have a chance to survive. There is a beautiful song which the name originates from (the song is a tribute to the nurses who died during World War One), it comes from a french song initially, La rose sous les boulets. This contributed to create this imagery of this character.
As you said, it is the third charity projects you are running. How much money did you raise so far?
In two years, about 52 000 euros, all donated to children. Somehow I’m always drawn to take care of children. They’re the most vulnerable.
Where are you now?
I’m stuck in France now, in the South. I was working on this book and I need to paint a lot. That is what I was doing the last months. Then I went to Paris for a few days and tattoo some people before going back, but… I got stuck! I always try to see the positive side. I’m a big fan of stoic philosophy, which means not losing time on the things you can’t control but spending it on the things you can so, I’m just drawing, organizing this project and forced to slow down a little bit. Actually I’m having a great time.
Some tattooers are still tattooing despite the risks, how do you feel about that?
Everybody has to do their part and we need to be socially responsible. That means we can not only think about our pockets and our needs, we need to think about other people and actually how not to spread the disease. It’s my social responsibility to protect the community. + Instagram : @stef_bastian_presents @stef_bastian
