Portrait of tattoo artist: VOID

Distrolution Merch works primarily with people from the music world, but not exclusively! Among our clients, we have many artists from the tattoo world. This is not surprising when you know the often strong links between the world of tattoos and that of music.

In this extremely complex period for them, following the successive closures of their parlors and the impossibility of traveling for guest spots or simply welcoming their clients who usually brave kilometers to come and get inked by them, the Distrolution Merch team has decided to highlight their work through weekly portraits.

Let's start this series of portraits with Marc VOID, a tattoo artist based in the Lille metropolitan area, with occult, symbolic, and resolutely dark references.

Hi! Thank you for taking the time to answer our questions! Can you introduce yourself to our readers?

Hi! First of all, thank you for the interest you show in my work. VOID, Blackwork tattoo artist in Northern France. 

What's your background in tattooing?

It's clearly a career change. After rather chaotic years in middle school, I followed an artistic curriculum in Belgium for five years.

Once I got out of there, I took a job just to pay the bills, and what was supposed to be temporary ended up lasting ten years!

The thing is, when you're on a permanent contract in a big company, in a comfortable position, with a good salary, security... you can quickly forget yourself, put aside your passions, what really drives you and makes you vibrate. You slowly let yourself disappear.

I was already a bit tattooed at the time... And I've always evolved in the "metal" scene with all the visuals and culture that revolve around it... 

 Inevitably, when I thought about what I really wanted to do with my life, tattooing quickly became an obvious choice. 

I learned as a self-taught artist, and even though I didn't follow a "classic" apprenticeship, I was quickly advised and supported by certain tattoo artists who showed themselves to be full of good advice, pedagogy, and kindness towards me. 

I will never thank ENTO from Freaky Family enough for being the very first to take an interest in my work and advise me.

Then I presented my portfolio in several shops in the region. 

In 2018, I joined the team at La Machine Infernale, who offered me to finish my apprenticeship there before becoming a resident artist with them.

Can you tell us about your preferred style, which is easily identifiable, and your influences, both graphic and musical?

The term BRUTAL MEDIEVAL sums up my graphic approach quite well.

I mainly work around medieval, folkloric, Scandinavian, religious, or occult subjects and themes... all in a rather primitive and dark manner.

I'm also very interested in spirituality in its various forms and, of course, in symbolism. I think that greatly influences my approach to tattooing. I see my flash designs as suggestions that anyone can appropriate and interpret to find what they want in them. 

For each project, I do a lot of research (especially when working with symbolism) to be able to make my subject my own while respecting it. In fact, I spend almost as much time in my old books as I do drawing!

During this period when tattoo parlors are closed, how are you currently occupying your time? 

Lots of drawings (Flash, client projects), I'm taking advantage of having time to work on other mediums as well (t-shirts, prints...), there are quite a few things in preparation... It's also an opportunity to look into collaborations outside of tattooing.

During the first lockdown, for example, Stéphane Buriez asked me to work on a t-shirt for LOUDBLAST's 35th anniversary. 

Currently, I'm preparing illustrations for the next book by D.M. Mikula Jr (who also plays in the black metal band GHOSTBATH).

I'm also currently working with the Dunkirk brewery OSSEUS, who have already entrusted me with the designs for several of their labels. And I just finished a visual for the Lille-based band SOUL X. 

I'm also moving forward with other projects that should come to fruition in 2022. Staying creative helps me avoid overthinking too much.

As someone who is used to working in a parlor with other artists, how are you handling this forced separation?

Like many, I'm frustrated and angry when I observe the lack of common sense in some of our leaders' decisions.

But I try to put things in perspective by telling myself that I'm not the worst off! I think about restaurant owners, bars, entertainment, culture, and health professionals who are taking the full brunt of this crisis.

You've already used Distrolution Merch for merchandise and/or communication materials. Can you talk about your experience with us?

I offer merch from time to time, always in small quantities and limited series.

For my latest T-shirt, a very specific printing technique was needed to get maximum detail, plus I really wanted something huge on the back.

I called on Distrolution Merch because in addition to being able to print in very large sizes, I knew that Seb (also the bassist in THE LUMBERJACK FEEDBACK), with the expertise and meticulousness I know him for, would produce exactly what I was looking for.

The result is top-notch, with short and respected deadlines, I wasn't disappointed!

What's your ideal playlist for working? 

Wow, tough to answer you!

It depends on the mood and the project... 

Right now, my top 5 for drawing would be:

"Celestial Lineage" by WOLVES IN THE THRONE ROOM
"Thèmes pour la rébellion" by FORTERESSE
"Twilight of the idols" by GORGOROTH
"Interstellar OST" by HANS ZIMMER
"Kaessariah" by SEMBLER DEATH

I also listen to a lot of ambient, folk, and traditional music. 

And when I'm tattooing, I tend to go for more intense stuff:

"Desideratum" by ANAAL NATHRAKH
"Demigod" by BEHEMOTH
"Exercises in futility" by MGLA
"Winterkalt" by PAYSAGE D'HIVER
"The Tunnels" by TERRA TENEBROSA

To wrap up this interview, can we talk about your (future) projects?

I will continue to offer merch.

This summer, I'll be in Nantes at TURBO ZERO... and as soon as the health situation is a bit more favorable, other guest spots will be coming up abroad (Germany, Quebec, USA, Spain).

I also have another project close to my heart for next year, but it's still a bit early to elaborate on it.

Thank you very much for the invitation!

You can follow VOID's work, discuss a future tattoo project, and maybe even order a t-shirt here, on Instagram and on Facebook.