INTERVIEW
they were the only influences I had. Back then they were my peers. It was a cross on my finger that was very small and I could hide under a silver ring.
How long after developing the tattoo bug did you decide that you wanted to tattoo people yourself? Well I was 13 when I did that. I was tattooing people at school. In the school I went to that's what we did. There was a lot of tattooing going on there. It wasn't unusual to see kids at 15 with tattoos on their neck.
From that time that you did your work yourself, to you becoming a developing artist, to becoming a working artist, how much do you feel your work has progressed? Well, with absolutely no artistic skills at the time I started marking people at what, 23, 24, the time when I first met Alex Binnie - he was a massive influence on me. I mean, I’d been hand poking myself here and there, but then he gave me some needles on bars and said have a go with these.
So when you were learning to draw, you were literally learning on yourself? Well I still don’t think I can draw. I can work with lines and put together patterns and so on. It was a long slow progression. The dot work was the first thing that happened. Working with negative space happened instantly, it seemed. Then came much more interesting hand work again, but six years ago, I abandoned hand work altogether and pursued only machines. I’m actually drawn to a different area of handwork now though, which will be by and large, concentrating on the sacred texts and mantras and elevating that side
of my work to a new realm. It seems like I want to have purpose to the hand tattooing now.
Your work does include lots of religious iconography, but what are your own personal beliefs? Ooh, well I’m very Xed-ist, I will say
NBAF 2010
I can’t see myself getting anything done now. I can’t say never, ‘cause there’s loads of unfinished business that needs seeing to, but I’m terrified of getting tattooed. It’s so painful as you get older! Oh my god… and I’ve only got painful areas left!
THE SKIN IS LIKE THE INTERFACE BETWEEN MYSELF AND THE UNIVERSE. TATOOING IS LIKE RENEWING THE INTERFACE.
that. I try to not get too involved with religions of any kind. I just have this very natural inclination towards mantras of a certain kind, which comes out of Buddhism, or Hinduism, but these are expressions of philosophy that can be represented outside of these ‘- isms’.
How do you feel about the misconceptions of these religions? It’s the same with any misconceptions. It’s terrible that people just don’t open their eyes. I don’t feel the need to follow any gangs; I’m not saying formal religions are a bad thing or a good thing, but I just find it unnecessary for myself at this time and never have had a need for it. I don’t wish to put anyone or anything down. My belief structure is a constantly changing and evolving thing anyway – I couldn’t tell you what I believe right now. No-one’s come back to tell us yet, anyway. Great minds have spent centuries searching for the answer, so I’m not gonna get there in my lunchtime!
What’s the next piece of ink you’ll have done yourself?
For me, tattooing is like inscribing a skin-deep memory – what are your views, or would you agree? I think there’s something more than just putting some graphics on some skin, or marking a moment; the skin itself – the largest organ in the body – is the interface between the inside and the outside, the known and the unknown. I don’t really know what lies outside. I can accept that what my eyes portray to me, but I can add some drugs and my eyes can enlighten me. I know that we’re not seeing the whole picture. The skin is another vehicle for conveying information, and it breaths, it absorbs, it repels. It’s like the interface between myself and the universe. Tattooing is like rewiring the interface.
Emma Noyeaux Picture: James Stroud
This is just a fraction of the insightful interview with Xed, so for the full thing, go to
Outlineonline.co.uk. Xed Le Head will be appearing with his studio, Divine Canvas at NBAF. Go to
norwichbodyartfestival.co.uk
Norwich Body Art Festival 2010
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