Yann Black is a tattoo artist who doesn't bother with Daffy Duck holding his dick or whatever. Being a huge fan of hideous tattoos, I tried to find some in his website's image gallery but was unable to locate even one tramp stamp, wedding ring tattoo, or a single cock dragon. His art is weird and abstract; lots of lines and black holes and Invader Zim-looking creatures. When I phoned him up for an interview it didn't occur to me that he'd have a bilingual website and not actually be bilingual himself. Once I found out he was Francophone, I assumed I'd be good to hold a conversation using my Minnesota high school French. Wrong again. Oh well.
Vice: Dites-mois un peu de votre style de tatouage.
Yann Black: Wait, speak slowly and if you ask me the questions in English I'll answer in French. OK?
Sure. Tell me about your tattooing style.
OK, d'accord. Before tattooing, I painted, so in fact what I do in tattoo isn't trying to find a new style or do something different, I just do what I did drawings of before. Voila--my tattoos. I wasn't looking to do anything special.
So what's the most unusual thing that's happened in your shop?
Sorry, but ask me in French. I don't understand.
Est-ce que quelque chose bizzare s'est passe dans votre magasin de tatouage? Like, someone came in and wanted something weird you absolutely wouldn't do?
Yeah, that happens a lot, people see a tattoo shop and they're looking for a binder with designs and patterns that are readymade. Here, we don't have that. There are plenty of people who come in and ask for, I don't know, tribal bands and junk like that. I only do my own designs, though.
So no cock dragons?
Quoi? En Francais, s'il vous plait.
Um, what's the ugliest tattoo anyone's asked you to do?
J'ai pas compris nonplus.
La tatouage le plus moche?
The ugliest? Well, in tattooing there are lots of ugly things, I've seen a lot. But there are tons of people who come in with designs they've done themselves that aren't good and I don't do that.
But what if someone came in with a portrait and a wad of money? Like their kids' portraits or their dog wearing a luau or something?
Oui, oui that happens. We don't do it. There are tons of people who come with horrible stuff. Since we're in St. Henri--it's a neighborhood with a very particular atmosphere. Voila.
I see. So what are your days like?
Well, it's really full. I wake up every day at seven in the morning.
People come in for tattoos that early?
No, I get all my own stuff ready. They come at about 11, and I have three hours to great ready, to clean and sterilize and all that. I end at night, maybe nineish. It depends.
And then it's out to get bombed?
What? En Francais s'il vous plait.
Nevermind. It was nice to talk to you.
ZOE DANIELS
weird.. they are all just really simple and geometric looking. I like more embellished tattoos myself
Posted by: janey | 08/07/2009 at 21:20
most awesome shit ever i love it. i am tattooless probably because everyone looks stupid with these tribals and glee stuff. your meat is mine...is mine.
Posted by: slather | 08/07/2009 at 21:31
good stuff.
Posted by: fresno | 08/07/2009 at 21:31
I like how its very jagged...makes it look like it hurt more.
Posted by: Aweandshocky | 08/07/2009 at 21:32
so his style...ok...but does he just go to town? or does he have to please the client at all>?
Posted by: Aweandshocky | 08/07/2009 at 21:36
holes that large in your ear have to fuck with your hearing. eeesh!
Posted by: mel | 08/07/2009 at 22:08
He should do a tat for a vice cover. might be cool. really interesting stuff.
Posted by: Steel Table Blues | 08/07/2009 at 22:52
are you people blind? or insane? or just friends with this guy? this is the worst shit I've ever seen. it's shocking how totally bad it is and...oh wait I get it: you're Canadian.
Posted by: tasteful | 09/07/2009 at 00:06
styles beyond.
Posted by: kirk | 09/07/2009 at 04:18
wrecked that good girl-body with nasty doodles
this looks like bullshit JtHM shiiiz
Posted by: olivia | 09/07/2009 at 06:01
those are some ugly Canadian tattoos
and of course not ugly in the sense of cool
Posted by: orangecatbludbandanna | 09/07/2009 at 06:47
skulls and hearts!! how mind-numbingly inventive and original!!
Posted by: Smoke Crack | 09/07/2009 at 08:20
man, this is what tattoos should be, actual art which is unique and dependent on the artist.
there is a time and place for dudes who will trace a design you bring to them onto your skin, but they shouldn't be called tattoo artists
among painters, no one who says "Michelango was the greatest painter ever" and then does all their work in primo fresco and italian renaissance style, is taken seriously as a modern artist
so why is it the norm that every tattoo artist imitate old sailor jerry style or uh, shitty generic flash art style or whatever
Posted by: anonymous | 09/07/2009 at 08:24
these tattoos actually kinda suck...
Posted by: mmm | 09/07/2009 at 10:55
Agree with mmm. They sure are different. But shitty anyways. Quit drawing on yourselves, Ryans.
Posted by: Mitch | 09/07/2009 at 13:58
Art, but also more proof that tats area bad idea 99% of the time. I wanna see the interview with all the barbed-wire arm guys and tramp-stamp bitches to see how they're feeling about their rebel badges these days.
Posted by: Angry anderson | 09/07/2009 at 16:16
No no no no no.
Posted by: Urinal Viper | 09/07/2009 at 16:28
it's tattoos like these that make me doubt any desire i have to get one of my own.
Posted by: anonymous | 09/07/2009 at 17:32
The first one around the ear is pretty dope... I think I've been staring at it for atleast 4 minutes to figure or where the lines are supposed to go in and out... I like the idea that a tatoo should be unique and not a random ready made stupid tribal out of a cata logue and I like that he doesnt tatoo whatever bullshit people want him to do.
Posted by: vanessa | 09/07/2009 at 18:05
dumb fucking americans. Your comments prove how stupid some.... maybe most... of you are. the idea is that it IS differant.. something you wouldnt see inked normally. It has nothing to do with it being Canadian therefore its ugly. Fuck some of you guys are retarded.....
Posted by: joe love | 11/07/2009 at 00:50
the only good thing about this post for me
are those perky nips
Posted by: papaver | 11/07/2009 at 00:50
It's like stuff I used to draw on my notebook in high school. He's using their bodies as a canvas for his unique art -- that's pretty hard core. Their meat really is his. It still saddens me to see women cover their bodies with tattoos, but that's my hang up...
Posted by: Ya | 11/07/2009 at 15:08
i love the art! and sure, i'm canadian -.-
i agree with joe love.
you have all your own style, you don't have to like it. it's just art.
greetings from germany
Posted by: Mel_oöfghköugcouzvdn | 07/08/2009 at 11:22
yann is originally from FRANCE people. he opened up a shop here in montreal. his tattoos are original and awesome. once you get one of his tattoos you are 100% sure nobody will have the same one as you. its called being creative and not following in anyones footsteps.
xxxmistressxxx
Posted by: MISTRESS666 | 21/09/2009 at 18:23