NICO
Could you tell us a bit about yourself? how did you get into tattooing?
I'm 27, 28 in June, big Gemini energy. I grew up in Calgary, Alberta and moved to Montreal 4 years ago. I went to art school in Calgary and graduated from the drawing department with a BFA in 2015. I left art school thinking that the only way I could make art was if it was in a really formal gallery setting. I struggled once I graduated. I didn't make art for almost two years after that. I felt overwhelmed and alienated by the art world, how formal it was and how rejection was a huge part of it. I actually got really depressed partly due to a toxic relationship and partly due to the fact that I had no creative outlet anymore. I had no art practice. I was really trying to figure out how to be a successful and respected creative within the confines of capitalism.
I started doodling and I was considering tattooing. I kinda watched some Montreal peers, like Emerick (@dirtyl00ks) and Charline (@charlinebataille), teach themselves to tattoo and create a following and career out of it. I reached out to a lot of artists who were self taught and asked how I could get started and how they got started. I couldn't imagine myself, a nonbinary afab person going into some trad Montreal tattoo parlor getting an apprenticeship. I'm super grateful, the community has been so generous in helping me learn and getting me off my feet. I hate this cliche, but honestly tattooing basically saved my life. I pulled myself out of the pits of my depression and threw myself at learning the craft as much as I could.
TATTOOING IS BODY RECLAMATION. IN THAT WAY I PERSONALLY FEEL LIKE TATTOOS CAN BE GOOD LUCK CHARMS, OR A LOVE SPELL, A PROTECTION CHARM.
What do you especially enjoy about tattooing?
Oh my god, hard question, basically everything? Like I really love the ritual of it, I love working with skin as weird and gross as that sounds its a really interesting canvas. I like the human connection, I'm so blessed to have met so many wonderful people who love my work. I love the community, especially the DIY and the queer parts of the tattoo community, like I said they have been really generous; letting me into their lives, studios and homes. But probably the thing I love the most about tattooing is the magic that is making someones skin beautiful, sacred body reclamation, you know especially as a queer artist who tattoos a lot of really lovely queer and trans people. Seeing peoples reactions when they look at that part of their body with so much love for themselves is a really beautiful thing. It's really touching to be trusted like this with so many peoples physical appearance and I'm so incredibly humbled by it.
Omg! Yes! Well, like I was saying in response to the last question, tattooing is body reclamation. In that way I personally feel like tattoos can be good luck charms, or a love spell, a protection charm. When you think about it tattoos often make us feel more confident and at home in our bodies. They commemorate things that we value, times in our lives, they remind us of how strong we are. Inherently, in my opinion, tattoos hold that magic. We love ourselves more, we feel stronger, and more confident. I basically think about tattooing in this way no matter what, when I am drawing new flash I try to imagine the kind of magic the tattoo might hold for them.
I love your idea how tattoos are like talismans/good luck charms. Could you speak a bit more about that?
Also a very hard question to answer because I love so many! A short list in no particular order:
@cruelbarb, @erica_hart, @tatboyblue, @trashpartytroll, @ursamajortattoo, @falevvicz, @gay.famous, @mattcarignan, @tranquil_top, @kilynne_lou, @mount_year, @ccckk2566, @c00pc00p, @puppypuppyplaytime, @ritasalt, @keara_mcgraw, @aye_cuidado, @baitkush, @house_of_ruin, @keegandakkar, @luisafbaby,
and literally so many more. I love them, all. When I'm not in quarantine mode of needing to not spend a lot of time on the internet, I share all the things on my feed I love and that inspires me. Literally there are too many people to name and I already feel guilty for forgetting people, but I can't list every one !!!
Who are some of your favorite tattooers?
In some of your earlier artwork, I see colorful drawings that reflect a darker side of reality. Where would you say your inspiration comes from?
I mean, okay, like at first when I started really getting into drawing though being depressed and needing an outlet and a place to process my pain. And I definitely continue to do that in my work now, it’s just in the form of flash more than individual drawings. The anti-valentines in particular were part of a window display I did for my old day job as part of a little expo I did. I had candy coloured gravestones that were putting to rest everything I don't like about society's views are on the typical relationship... I think it's kinda hard for me to not include my personal political views in my work because I have a platform to scream about trans rights and stuff like that I feel like I have to use it.
Can you speak about a bit about how A goal of yours is to start a queer tattoo studio co-op in Montreal?
Oh my god yes, I have been thinking about this non stop for over 6 months now.
I was convinced it was gonna happen this year with friends. I've kind of decided because of COVID19 that's probably not happening any more?
I mean I always feel like an outsider to some extent in any city so I do sometimes feel really alienated, but at the same time I have made some really special friendships with artists in Montreal and I have so much love for them. I do really wanna open a space that prioritizes accessibility to all folks, a space that is street level, and as accommodating as possible, like having a discount percentage for POC, sex workers, trans people, anyone with marginalized identities. I don't know anything about money or balancing books though so I don't know if I can make it work.
Is there anything you'd like to see change within the tattoo community at large?
I think the change I would like to see in the tattoo community at large would have to be better consent practices. Consent is a huge part of my process, I don't feel comfortable tattooing someone unless they know that they are in control. I think this macho cis man pain cult has to end. I'm upset I still hear stories about sexist, fatphobic, patriarchal tattoo artists making their clients feel uncomfortable and unable to advocate for themselves. I would also like to just see more artists educating themselves on how to decolonialize the practice as it isn't really something that white people did that much historically. I mean also I really need people (specifically cis men) to stop drawing headless naked women, pleaser type heels (the kinds sex workers would wear), and also being very careful about drawing trans bodies. I think when it comes down to it we have to be sensitive to the fact that it isn't okay for us to profit off of some imagery that perpetuates sexualization, devaluing, or fetishizing certain people.
This is something where I have definitely had to learn what my boundaries are. So I have pulled back. I have learned that the healthiest thing for me is to only really follow other people that make me feel positive things. I also try to limit my time per day on Instagram because I will often inevitably start doing work instead of passively just looking. I think too moving all my work related correspondence to email really helps keep things organized for me and helps me not feel so drained by
How do you balance your personal life with your online presence?
If you were stranded on a remote island, what are three things you’d bring with you?
Probably my cat, my drawing stuff and some weed.
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