Tof's story

Tattoo On Move: the unconventional journey of a globe-trotting tattoo artist

Exile in Madagascar and a providential meeting

Born in Bergerac, Tof already had several journeys behind him when, in 1995, at only 23, he left France for Madagascar, where his father was living at the time. Longing for adventure and looking to give his life a new direction after many mishaps, he first went to join his father and discover the country. He liked life there, and decided to stay. About a year later, chance put Marco Leoni in his path, a pioneer of the tattoo world. Italian by birth, he is best known for having been the first tattoo artist in Brazil (“Into You”), before opening “Body Markings” in Bologna and organising the Bologna and Riccione tattoo conventions.

This unexpected meeting was a turning point. Tof was painting murals with whatever means he had, and Marco, when he wasn't deep in the Malagasy bush or in Bologna, enjoyed dropping by to see him, so much so that they ended up painting a few together. A sincere friendship grew between the young exile and the seasoned artist. During his visits to Tana (Antananarivo), Marco, who travelled with two friends, stayed at Tof's rather than at a hotel: Tof had a big house, where Italian meals followed one after another. Marco tattooed Tof and friends passing through. Tof, curious, was drawn to this blend of engraving and painting, asked questions, and very soon Marco began to pass on his know-how and his passion for tattooing.

At the time, resources for tattooing were limited, especially in Madagascar. Very few inks were available and equipment was scarce. Nothing that is easy to find today was within reach: needles were soldered by hand, with more or less success, to make the different groupings that ink the skin. No matter: armed with sound advice, in a mix of Italian, Brazilian Portuguese and halting French, the young man managed and learned the basics of the trade in makeshift conditions. Marco left him some equipment and showed him how to solder needles; but he worked four months a year in Italy and often headed off into the bush, and Tof only saw him about once every two months. The rest of the time, he learned on his own, in “rather folkloric” conditions. His very first tattoo, about a year after they met, he did on himself: a small kanji on his thigh, to understand the sensations. In the neighbourhood where he lived, every house had a guard; he asked his own to tell the other guards who might want a tattoo. That is how his activity began. These first steps, improvised but determined, laid the foundations of a budding vocation.

A travelling tattoo artist in Madagascar

In Tana or anywhere else on the Red Island, there wasn't a single tattoo shop. Tof did meet a few Malagasy tattoo artists who worked from home, doing “hand poke” (not by choice), but he understood that he had to go and find clients where they were. Armed with this informal apprenticeship, he took to the road again, as he always did, and set out as a travelling tattoo artist across Madagascar. The road was long, but he travelled through the country's main towns by bush taxi. At each new stop, he put up a few posters in hotels, bars and other meeting places to announce his services. Then, for two to three weeks, he tattooed a small clientele of locals and passers-by, for derisory prices — barely a few francs of the time, the equivalent of one or two euros. The money he earned was just enough to live modestly: by day he drew designs on skin, and by night he enjoyed Madagascar's festive life without a care. Once his purse was refilled and boredom set in, he hit the road again for another town, and repeated this nomadic way of life for several years.

With time and the experience he had built up, he eventually opened his first real tattoo shop in Antananarivo, the Malagasy capital: Aloalo Tattoo. The place became a friendly meeting point, a reflection of the good times he was having in Madagascar. Evenings there were lively and well-oiled, the atmosphere good-natured. The tattoos kept coming and, even though they earned him very little, they multiplied for the pleasure of the practice.

A few trips around the Indian Ocean followed: Mayotte, now and then, to tattoo at the homes of friends he had met in Madagascar — a beautiful island, but far too small for our traveller. He tried his luck on Réunion Island and did the rounds of the tattoo shops. His style went down well: in Saint-Denis, Chovel Tattoo took him into its team. Lots of tattoos and lots of parties, but he missed Madagascar. Even though he went back once a month, city life didn't suit him: he returned to Madagascar.

During this period he was not just a tattoo artist: he also lived other unusual adventures. Alongside a Thai friend, he even went sapphire hunting during the “sapphire rush” in Madagascar — an astonishing interlude in which he tracked down precious stones in the bush.

As time went by, however, things became complicated. Between ever more frequent trips with Marco across the island (in a 4x4 to head deep into the Malagasy bush) and a certain administrative carelessness, business slowed down. Administrative troubles eventually tarnished the picture. Around the turn of the 2000s, he was forced to leave Madagascar in a hurry. This forced departure brought a brutal end to that first exotic adventure, rich in lessons and parties, and he returned to France with a heavy heart.

He took the opportunity to visit his friend Marco Leoni in Bologna, and it was during this time that he attended, as a wide-eyed visitor, his very first tattoo convention. And not just any convention: the unmissable Riccione convention, orchestrated by Marco Leoni himself. Seeing so many renowned tattoo artists gathered in such a buzzing atmosphere left a deep impression on him. This immersion in crowds and ink made him aware of the scale of the tattoo community around the globe and confirmed him in his path.

Adventures in Thailand and new encounters

But back in France after five years in the tropics, the budding tattoo artist struggled to find his bearings. Mainland France seemed gloomy after Malagasy freedom. It was then that a former Thai business friend — the very one he had hunted sapphires with — suggested he join him in Thailand for the fortnight he had to spend in his home country. The idea of a new horizon tempted him. With a one-way ticket and 1,500 francs in his pocket, he flew to Bangkok, ready to seize the chance.

On arrival, nothing went as planned. His friend, held up by a setback, wasn't there to meet him at the airport. Left to his own devices in the immense Asian capital, he spent a few days on his own, disoriented but thrilled by the energy of Bangkok. In the end, someone close to his friend came to pick him up on a motorbike — and not just any bike: a big police motorcycle, borrowed from his officer brother. And off he went, crossing Bangkok at full speed, siren blaring, to reach his host. The Thai adventure got off to a flying start, quite literally on the wheels of a motorbike.

He settled in for a week at his friend's and discovered his daily life as a sapphire dealer. Together they toured Thailand, between precious stone deals and improvised journeys. Then his friend had to go back to Madagascar for business, leaving our traveller alone in Bangkok. What was meant to be a short stay stretched out: he decided to stay and soaked up the local culture for six whole months.

During this immersion, he met Jimmy Wong, the oldest tattoo artist in Bangkok, a true living legend of tattooing in Thailand. Jimmy ran a small tattoo shop in the red-light district of hostess bars and was in the habit of working only at night, when the buzz was at its peak. The Frenchman joined his workshop: every afternoon, he opened the shop while waiting for the master to arrive, then carried on through the evening tattooing at his side until dawn. The night-time atmosphere was electric, with neon, music and street smells, but ideal for a unique apprenticeship. With Jimmy Wong, he perfected his art and discovered another face of tattooing, more urban and underground.

He took the chance to have traditional protective tattoos, the Sak Yant, done by monks, and toured Thailand by bus, train and motorbike, enjoying a pleasant life.

This Thai stay was also rich in professional encounters. One day, a tattoo artist from the Netherlands, Floor Kramer, pushed open the door of the shop. Won over by the Frenchman's touch, he invited him to come and work in his own shop in Breda. Shortly afterwards, it was Gilles, a tattoo artist from Saint-Laurent-du-Var, who stopped by Jimmy Wong's just before heading back to Europe. They got on so well that he offered our globe-trotter to come and tattoo for a few days in his tattoo shop when the occasion arose. These international contacts widened his horizons: tattooing was decidedly opening the doors of the world to him.

During this period, he met Noy, a young Thai woman who would become his wife. At Jimmy Wong's, he also met a young Thai tattoo artist, Bo Tattoo, who invited him to come and work in his shop in Khon Kaen, one of the largest cities in the country, yet one that very few tourists visit because of its location: it lies in Isan, the north-east, the region of rice paddies and the hottest in the country. He stayed there for several months, alternating stays in Khon Kaen, Bangkok and other cities to explore every region of the country. He took advantage of Thailand's rainy season, which coincides with summer in Europe, to go and work at Gilles Tattoo in Saint-Laurent-du-Var and at Floor Kramer's in the Netherlands, not forgetting to visit his very dear friend Marco Leoni in Bologna, who worked every summer so he could set off travelling again.

Back in France and the creation of Tattoo On Move

Armed with these Asian and European experiences, he finally returned to France in the early 2000s, with new plans in mind. He was now thirty, with a Thai wife he had met during his stay in Asia, and a desire to put down roots somewhere without giving up his wandering spirit.

After his wedding, he tried another adventure abroad, going back to Italy for a while, where his mentor Marco Leoni was still running his tattoo shop Body Markings in Bologna. The couple lived there for three months, long enough for him to assist Marco and soak up how a large European tattoo shop worked. Unfortunately, once Marco had gone back to Madagascar, his partner looked unkindly on the arrival of this Frenchman he barely knew, and let him feel it. Rather than linger in a tense atmosphere, our tattoo artist preferred to pack his bags.

Back in France, he found refuge in a tattoo shop in the Aix-en-Provence area, Aixtrême Tattoo, where he worked flat out for more than a year. It was a chance to consolidate his technique, build a loyal local clientele and get used to the sustained pace of an established tattoo shop. Even so, the call of Asia still echoed within him.

Dreaming of recapturing the buzz of Thailand, he considered for a time opening a shop in Bangkok. But the administrative procedures and legal obstacles for a foreigner wanting to set up a business in Thailand proved discouraging. He had to face facts: his immediate future would be in France.

It was then that an unexpected opportunity came up. In 2005, he was offered premises in L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, a charming town in Provence. He decided to settle there and open his own tattoo shop. True to the nomadic spirit that had always guided him, he named it Tattoo On Move — a Franglais name that evokes both tattooing and perpetual motion. From its opening, in June 2005, Tattoo On Move drew curiosity, then loyalty, from clients won over by the eclectic style and experience of this globe-trotting tattoo artist. At last at home, without ever really ceasing to travel, he laid the foundations of what would become a thriving entrepreneurial adventure.

Success, apprentices and team spirit

The Tattoo On Move tattoo shop quickly found success in L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue. With his unconventional background and international experience, the tattoo artist offered varied styles and an open-mindedness that set him apart. Appointments kept coming and the shop's reputation grew. In 2016, he even tattooed the singer Renaud there. Every year, however, he allowed himself a winter break of two to three months — usually from January to March — during which he closed the shop and went back to Thailand to see his wife and reconnect with the Asia he holds dear. These breaks let him recharge his batteries, fill up on inspiration and take care of his wife's visa formalities when she joined him in Provence for short stays.

On one of his stopovers in Bangkok, he met a tattoo artist based in England who was mainly a tattoo ink maker. They got on well, and he offered Tof the chance to become his sole reseller in France. An entrepreneur and a go-getter, Tof launched into selling tattoo equipment in 2006. The beginnings were difficult, but through perseverance, and with the help of a long-standing friend who had been a bakery sales rep (nothing to do with it, but business is business), he managed to make a name for himself in the tattoo world. He ran around the conventions at least once a month, as both a reseller and a tattoo artist, travelling all over Europe. The company, Aloalo Tattoo Supply, became profitable, well known and respected in the trade.

Over time, the understanding with his partner, Olivier, was no longer what it had been. Their views on the company's development and future diverged, and that direction no longer interested our globe-trotter. Tof is not drawn to the money side of things: he likes taking on challenges, and this disagreement made him sad. In 2016, he decided to sell his shares to his partner for a modest sum. The company has since been called La Compagnie du Tatouage. This choice allowed him to devote all his energy to what he truly loves: tattooing and developing his tattoo shops.

With time, his Thai wife eventually settled in France for a while at his side. But the couple did not last: their paths parted and a divorce followed, without fuss or bitterness. They remain on good terms. As proof of the bond they have kept, he tattooed her entire back — a piece she is proud of, which she sees as protection, and which she dreams of extending one day to her whole body. With that personal page turned without drama, the tattoo artist devoted himself more than ever to his real family: the one in his workshop.

Over the years, Tattoo On Move has seen many apprentices and fellow tattoo artists come and go. The founder enjoys training young artists and sharing his experience with them. Some brilliant apprentices stay only briefly before spreading their own wings; others, promising ones, sadly squander their chances by taking the wrong direction.

There were also disappointments, and some were painful. Yet far from becoming bitter, he takes these trials philosophically. He forgives without resentment, considering he has nothing to reproach himself for, and keeps moving forward with his head held high.

Amid these upheavals, beautiful stories blossom. Bambi is the best example. He arrived very young as an apprentice and spent more than ten years at Tattoo On Move. Under his mentor's wing, he honed his style and gained confidence, until he became an accomplished tattoo artist… and even surpassed the master. Proud of his protégé, the founder watched him open his own shop in Aubenas, proof that the next generation is assured. Better still, Bambi regularly comes back as a guest artist to tattoo in L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, a sign of the bond between them. It was even Bambi who tattooed the whole back of his former master — a masterly piece that the latter happily boasts about. More than a team, Tattoo On Move has given birth to a family of the heart. It is this spirit of camaraderie and transmission that, beyond individual talent, is the strength and pride of the tattoo shop.

Seaside seasons and expansion in Provence

The success of Tattoo On Move gave its creator ideas of expansion. In 2011, Fabrice, of Nîmes Tattoo, whom he had met several times and who had become his friend, called him about an opportunity: taking over the street shop “Fun Tattoo” that Jammy, a very well-known and respected tattoo artist from Arles, had set up in Le Grau-du-Roi almost ten years earlier. Always ready for adventure, Tof accepted the partnership. Every summer, from 2011 to 2014, he split his time between the Provençal calm of L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue and the bustle of Le Grau-du-Roi at the height of the tourist season.

In Le Grau-du-Roi, the tattoo high season is intense. In July and August, the tattoo shop ran at full tilt: open from 10 a.m. until midnight, seven days a week. Many tattoo artists came to work there for one or several weeks in semi-holiday mode: their wives and children enjoyed the beach while they tattooed clients from all over France. The pace was gruelling, and the whole team held on with plenty of passion (and coffee). Every night, after closing, the ritual never changed: colleagues met up at a local restaurant, the Gepetto, open until the early hours, to unwind over a good meal and a few drinks. They laughed, put the world to rights, then everyone went off to collapse for a few hours before starting again the next day. On the last day of the season, everyone was exhausted, but happy to have lived this summer marathon together. The experience was very enriching, both personally and artistically, and remains a memorable adventure in the tattoo artist's journey.

But all good things come to an end: after a few exhausting seasons, Fabrice and Tof decided to pass on the torch. The Le Grau-du-Roi shop was taken over by Marie, a tattoo artist who had worked for Fabrice and who has carried on the business brilliantly ever since. This handover coincided with a new opportunity, closer to Tattoo On Move's Provençal base. In Carpentras, not far from L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, a local piercing pillar — mischievously nicknamed “The Lord of the Rings” — was retiring and putting his shop up for sale. The deal was all the more tempting because the shop sat right next to a small tattoo shop. Smelling a good opportunity, our tattoo artist teamed up with Bambi, by now his right-hand man, and bought the piercing shop. The following year, they also acquired the neighbouring tattoo shop, run by Patrick under the Tatouland name. A few hammer blows later, an opening joined the two premises and a large space came into being. That is how Tattoo On Move grew in 2014 with a second address, in Carpentras.

The new shop, which brings tattooing and piercing together under the same banner, quickly found its clientele. Thanks to Tattoo On Move's already solid reputation and the talented team working within its walls, the Carpentras address prospered in its turn. Now at the head of two complementary shops, our globe-trotting tattoo artist has anchored his passion firmly in the heart of Provence.

Tattooing, always on the move

The name Tattoo On Move was not chosen at random. “On Move” evokes perpetual motion, and that is exactly how he sees his trade and his life. A traveller at heart, he still roams the world whenever he can, even since settling in France. On every trip, he can't help but go and meet local tattoo artists, push open the doors of foreign tattoo shops, swap techniques and draw inspiration from styles from elsewhere. He often takes part in international conventions or simply visits old friends met along the way.

Sometimes he even treats himself to unusual experiences. One evening in Bangkok, hanging around in the street, he spontaneously grabbed the machine of a street tattoo artist he was chatting with and did a client's tattoo in his place, asking nothing in return. With a smile on his face, he let his Thai companion pocket the money: for him, simply tattooing in the sticky Bangkok night, right in the street, was a reward in itself.

He expresses this restlessness at home too, in how he fits out his shops. A perfectionist and creative, he has rethought and reshaped the inside of Tattoo On Move many times. In twenty years, the L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue shop has changed its decor at least ten times, each renovation bringing its share of improvements: new, more comfortable booths, original murals on the walls, redesigned lighting, made-to-measure furniture... As the tattoo shop's 20th anniversary approached, he even indulged in a little aesthetic folly by having the doors of a large cupboard laser-engraved with the Tattoo On Move coat of arms, adorned with inscriptions in the Thai alphabet. These majestic doors are among his proudest achievements, and he is already thinking of applying the idea to other elements of the decor.

Beyond the premises, it is the team he looks after. He is keen to cultivate a real team spirit in his tattoo shops. Working at Tattoo On Move means joining a family — “the family”, as he likes to say. Camaraderie, mutual support and good humour are values he lives by every day. He can be demanding — his strong character is beyond doubt — but he is also deeply attached to human bonds. Those who work with him appreciate his straight talking and his infectious passion. In return, he admires the loyalty and talent of those around him. Always on the move, always looking for something new, he spreads this inexhaustible creative energy to everyone around him.

The soul of the shops: decoration and spirituality

If his tattoo shops have such a particular atmosphere, it is because they reflect his travelling, spiritual soul. Decoration plays a central part. As soon as you push open the door, you are struck by the warm presence of wood, and by the sculptures and works of art on the shelves. Every nook tells a story, brought back from a faraway trip or a memorable encounter. Admittedly, over the years the collection of souvenirs has sometimes invaded the space to the point of overloading it, but the master of the house recently had a bit of a clear-out to keep only the essentials, without taking anything away from the soul of the place.

In the Carpentras shop, two guardians quietly keep watch behind the tall windows: two statues of Yaksha, the giant protectors seen at the entrance to Thai temples. These ancient bronze statues, patinated by time, are not mere knick-knacks. They have a mystical story: on one of his trips to Asia, the tattoo artist fell under their spell. He often says it was they who “called” him from an antique dealer's stall in Bangkok, as if their destiny were to end up here, on Provençal soil, to stand guard over his tattoo shop. Before being shipped to France, the two Yakshas were blessed and purified in a temple, according to Buddhist rites. They now sit proudly in the window, said to protect the shop and those who work in it. The tattoo artist has an almost affectionate relationship with these silent guardians: he readily credits them with warding off negative energy and watching over Tattoo On Move's good fortune.

But the esoteric side of the place does not stop at the statues. He himself bears on his body the marks of his spiritual experiences. Fascinated by Thai culture, he had several sacred tattoos done by Buddhist monks during his stays. These traditional tattoos, the Sak Yant, are done the old-fashioned way, by hand with a long needle, in the stillness of temples sometimes lost deep in the countryside. Each design — mystical tiger, geometric yantra, incantations in the Pali language — is said to bring protection, strength or luck to whoever wears it. The ritual is impressive: the tattooing monk recites prayers while inking the skin, breathing “magic” into the design. One of these monks, it is said, even ended up losing his mind, so powerful was the energy he handled — a detail that says a lot about the unique nature of these practices. Each session, often painful, was for him an initiatory ordeal and a source of pride. He now wears many protective tattoos, mostly invisible under his clothes, but whose kindly presence he feels every day.

He tries to return to Thailand from time to time for a very special event linked to these sacred tattoos. Not far from Bangkok takes place the famous Wai Khru, an annual ceremony during which thousands of Sak Yant bearers gather in a temple to “recharge” the magic of their tattoos. It is sometimes called the “day of power”. The atmosphere is indescribable: in the sticky heat, to the sound of drums and chanting, worshippers fall into a trance, possessed by the spirit of their animal or divine tattoos, while the officiating monks bless left and right. He has experienced it several times, as a mere observer among the crowd, and has come away overwhelmed each time. “You have to live it to understand,” he says simply when asked about it. These spiritual immersions feed his vision of tattooing as an art that is not only aesthetic, but also charged with meaning and energy.

It is hardly surprising, then, that he has made his tattoo shops far more than mere tattoo workshops. They are living spaces, at the crossroads of personal museum, pagan temple and place of creation. Every object, every photograph on the wall, every talisman brought back from a trip contributes to the unique identity of Tattoo On Move. That identity is his own: that of a travelling artist for whom tattooing is inseparable from discovering the world and the search for oneself.

Following the path of this tattoo artist like no other, you understand that his journey is just like his inks: rich in colours, symbols and emotions. Starting from almost nothing on a faraway island, he managed, through encounters and trials, to keep reinventing himself. From Madagascar to Thailand, from the busy streets of Bangkok to the lanes of Provence, he has traced his own path, guided by his passion for tattooing. Today, surrounded by his team, whom he considers his family, he keeps moving forward, always on the move.

A new adventure with Marco, in Tunisia

The story does not end there, however. Years go by, the shops evolve, but some friendships remain. The one between Tof and Marco Leoni, since they met in Madagascar, is one of them.

About five years ago, Marco moved to Tunisia. He was then working in a tattoo shop whose conditions were not really up to what Tof would have wished for him. Tof offered to invest to help him open a new place. He had the means and, above all, the desire: it was a way of supporting the man who had given him so much.

Together they opened a very beautiful tattoo shop. Unfortunately, the adventure ended badly, and the shop slipped out of their hands. A disappointing experience, which leaves the regret of a fine project cut short, but which does not call their friendship into question.

Today, Marco regularly comes back to L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue. He likes spending time with Tof, working a little at the tattoo shop and seeing the team again. He likes the atmosphere, as well as the bonds he has formed there. Their shared story thus goes on, far from Madagascar, in this Provençal shop that has become another meeting point.

Tof feels deep gratitude towards him. He is happy that their paths crossed and that Marco showed him a way in which he still recognises himself, thirty years later. Tattooing settled into his life little by little, through this friendship, the travels and the first attempts. Looking back, he feels this path was made for him.

A growing team, a transmission that continues

Today, Tof tattoos less. He devotes himself more to managing the two shops and leaves more room for his young team. He still tattoos friends and some clients who want to go under his needles, but now chooses his projects. His daily life has taken on a calmer rhythm, even though the tattoo shops still take up a big place in his life.

In Carpentras, Flo looks after the tattooing and Alyson the piercing. In L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, Zoé tattoos and Ilona does the piercing. Four people, four personalities, to whom Tof is deeply attached.

Zoé began her apprenticeship in early 2023. Since then, Tof has watched her progress, gain confidence and find her place. She now works day to day at the tattoo shop as a tattoo artist, with a taste for old school, new school and fine-line work. He admires her work and her humility, which reminds him of Bambi's. The bond he has with her goes beyond the professional: she holds an almost family place in his life.

Watching Zoé move forward and thinking back over Bambi's path are great sources of pride for him. He doesn't claim to be the best teacher, but he is happy to have been able to pass on to them what he knew, what he had learned and a certain way of living the trade. He hopes to see them go far and keep flourishing in their art.

Flo, for his part, arrived already knowing how to tattoo. He was not Tof's apprentice, but working together in the same team has allowed exchanges and a progression that Tof follows with pleasure. Flo observes, asks questions, seeks advice and also shares a lot. His work is asserting itself over time, notably around mandalas, dotwork and fine designs.

Beyond his technique, Tof appreciates his humility, curiosity and culture. His background includes archaeology studies, another side of his personality that impresses Tof. He sees in him someone who respects tattooing and who keeps the desire to learn while developing his own universe.

Alyson and Ilona count just as much in this balance. Tof appreciates these two piercers, each with her own character and personality. Everyone has theirs, himself included. What matters to him is the pleasure of working with the team as it is today, and the attachment he feels for each of them.

Over the years, he has also passed on his knowledge to others he no longer sees. Paths sometimes part, without erasing the pleasure of a meeting or what was shared. Other memories are harder. He doesn't try to sugar-coat them: the good and the bad encounters have all been part of his experience.

Back to the roots: champagne

Tof was not born in Champagne, but he spent parts of his childhood there, in Vertus, right at the start of the Côte des Blancs, at his grandmother Jacqueline's. A teacher, then a headmistress, strict and upright, she had a few plots of vines. The cooperative bought her grapes and paid her in bottles, which she dressed herself in her cellar: sticking the label on straight, putting on the foil capsule without creasing it. As a boy, Tof helped her, his fingers sticky. He didn't know it yet, but she was already teaching him his trade: leaving a mark, a clean one.

She learned, at the end, that her grandson had made skin his trade, but she left too soon for them to talk about it. Her little wooden stool has never left the room where he tattoos.

Today, Tof brings his two lives together. In Vertus, a winemaker friend, who does everything himself, from grape to bubble, makes cuvées just for him, on the land of his childhood. Their name: Champagne Tatouage by Tattoo on Move. It is coming soon.

Alcohol abuse is dangerous for your health. Drink in moderation.

“Even after thirty years, I'm still an apprentice”

For Tof, becoming an independent tattoo artist never means having finished learning. Zoé now practises her trade, Flo is developing his style, and he himself keeps learning after thirty years of practice. He puts it simply: “We're always apprentices. We always have something to learn from others.”

This conviction runs through his whole story. He received from Marco, learned from other artists, discovered ways of working in several countries, then passed on in turn what he could. Learning continues in everyday exchanges, in advice asked for or given, and in the attention paid to other people's work.

His view of the tattoo world has nonetheless changed. He recognises the talent of many artists of the new generation and the quality of their work. But he feels less at home in the current atmosphere of the scene and has less desire to take part in conventions. He misses the rock'n'roll spirit, the encounters and the freedom of his early days.

What disappoints him, in particular, is the place money can take, and the idea that all it takes is buying cheap equipment and watching a few tutorials to become a tattoo artist. In his eyes, this trade demands more: time, apprenticeship, exchange and respect for what you do. It is this way of approaching it that he wants to keep alive with his team.

Tof now chooses the projects that speak to him and finds great satisfaction in seeing others progress. Marco's regular return to the tattoo shop, Bambi's career, Zoé's progress and the exchanges with Flo each extend, in their own way, this story of encounters and transmission.

And the desire for new adventures is still there. A humanitarian association project in Africa, centred on insect farming to help feed local populations, is also taking shape. But this time, as he puts it himself, it is another story, which he will tell later.

For now, what comes next is being written between his two shops, the projects he chooses to tattoo and the people he likes working with. Always on the move, and always an apprentice.

Book an appointment with Tof

To submit your project to him, online booking at both our tattoo shops and answers to frequently asked questions are on Tof's page.